Rising unemployment (2)

Leonie Cooper: How will you support Londoners who become unemployed during this pandemic?

The Mayor: I have acted quickly to ensure unemployed Londoners affected by the pandemic are benefiting from the devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB), which is our main lever in supporting a wide range of skills and training provision in the capital. In addition to an £11m COVID-19 Response Fund, I have introduced funding for any Londoner who is unemployed or earning below the London Living Wage to undertake a course at level 3. I have also allowed grant providers to spend 10% of their funding this year – up to £23m – to support Londoners with short, sharp retraining interventions.
European Social Fund (ESF) projects and Mayoral initiatives such as the Mayor’s Construction Academy, London Progression Collaboration, Digital Talent Programme, the London Enterprise Adviser Network, Employment Rights Hub and the Workforce Integration Network are also helping Londoners most in need to access opportunities and support.
Tackling unemployment and supporting Londoners into good work is a key priority for the London Recovery Board, which I co-chair and which will support joint action across London.

Documentation Associated with Phase 1 of UCL IHE Covid-19 Report

Keith Prince: According to the Minutes of the TfL-UCL “Bus worker and Covid-19 Research Steering Group” Meetings published on TfL’s Website, at several meetings TfL presented a detailed project plan for the remainder of phase 1 and the steps to communicate phase 1 findings. Please provide me with all final copies and drafts of presentations and steps to communicate phase 1 findings plus copies of any communications (emails, handwritten notes) associated with these including early drafts of presentations, press releases and plans to communicate phase 1 findings.

The Mayor: I have asked Transport for London to collate this documentation and respond to you directly once this process is complete

Diversity in leadership

Shaun Bailey: Trevor Phillips reports , in 'The Colour of Power', that diversity progress at leadership levels has stalled. But he says, “The fact that one person – the Prime Minister – is responsible for a third of the increase in ethnic minority individuals on the Colour of Power list, reveals that if there is a will to make a difference, then change is achievable.” Where specifically have you shown such a "will to change" in improving diversity at leadership levels and addressing the BAME pay gap within the GLA since May 2016?

The Mayor: Leading by example on workforce diversity has been a key principle of my leadership in this area. Inclusive London, my strategy on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has resulted in innovations which address diversity in leadership both across the workforces I’m responsible for, and which seek to influence practice by employers across London.
Across the GLA Group, these include Our Time which is a positive action programme to support gender equality across the GLA Group, the Talent Management Programme – a pilot positive action programme to support the progression of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic staff in the GLA and the Diversity and Inclusion Action Standard.
The Workforce Integration Network – which addresses the under-representation of young Black men in the construction and digital industries, and the Good Work Standard – which promotes progressive employment practice, both highlight how my leadership is influencing employers across London on diversity in leadership.
The GLA has led the way on ethnicity pay gap reporting (still not a statutory requirement) by publishing ethnicity pay gap audits alongside action plans since 2017. The GLA Group organisations are among the very few organisations which currently publish ethnicity pay reporting data. GLA Group organisations also publish an action plan alongside the data setting out how they are working to close the pay gap. The GLA was highlighted in research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in August 2018 as a case study of best practice on ethnicity pay reporting.
Since 2017 the GLA has narrowed the ethnicity pay gap by 4.95% to 11.05%. The GLA has also set up a Race Equity Action Group, which is focused on closing the ethnicity pay gap, chaired by members of the Corporate and Senior Management Teams working together with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network and members of staff who put themselves forward to take part.
Since 2016, the ethnic diversity of candidates has increased to 42% for both external and internal applicants (up from 37% and 39% respectively). In that time the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in the GLA has also increased by 5% to a record 30%, having hovered at 25% on average for the previous decade. Representation has risen by 3% in the last financial year alone and representation of senior Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff at senior levels (Grade 12 and above) has also increased by 4% to 14% in March this year.

Air Pollution in Second Lockdown

Murad Qureshi: With air pollution reductions less impressive during the second European lockdown, what lessons are there for London?

The Mayor: The changes in traffic across London was one of the reasons why I have reintroduced the ULEZ and the Congestion Charge, which were temporarily suspended in March during the first lockdown, to facilitate the movement of London’s critical workers and freight vehicles, whose journeys were essential to the early response to the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, my Streetspace Plans have created more space for walking and cycling across London.
The need for a cleaner, greener London has never been more apparent - we cannot afford to replace one public health crisis with another. Emerging evidence of the association between air pollution and the most severe effects of COVID-19 make these schemes even more essential to protect Londoners’ health. These schemes reduce congestion and pollution and help tackle the climate emergency.

School children infection rate

Onkar Sahota: The number of school-age children with coronavirus has risen "significantly" in the second wave compared with the first, according to the Government's scientific advisers. How can you as Mayor encourage safe practices and distancing in schools?

The Mayor: We have repeatedly asked for more testing in our worst hit boroughs to help tackle the spread of the virus and I have discussed our concerns with the Health Secretary, including the particularly concerning rise in cases in secondary school children. It’s important that the Government is providing much-needed testing support before the Christmas break for secondary school students in the seven north east London boroughs where there are worrying rises on infection rates.
I welcome the announcement from the Secretary of State for Education on 15 December that mass weekly testing will be introduced in January for all secondary schools. It is essential that the Government provides the capital’s schools and colleges with the resources to quickly mobilise and roll out testing when children return after the Christmas holidays.
It is essential that Londoners continue to follow the rules to reduce the spread of the virus.
Within the school, face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils in secondary schools when moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. More guidance to pupils and parents is provided on london.gov.uk https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus/back-school-and-college, through fortnightly Healthy Schools London briefings to borough leads and targeted messaging encouraging safe behaviours to young Londoners from 13 years old upwards on my social media platforms.

The Mayor's Culture Strategy (1)

Susan Hall: How many objectives have been achieved in the Mayor's Culture Strategy to date?

The Mayor: My Culture Strategy, Culture for All Londoners, is the most ambitious culture strategy of any administration to date.
In March 2020, I published a One Year On report outlining achievements up to March 2020. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/oneyearon_web_upload.pdf
We are making progress across the full range of activities set out in the strategy, and achieved the following since March 2020: Brent’s 2020 London Borough of Culture programme; launching a £1.3m skills programme in three Creative Enterprise Zones; unveiling the 13th Fourth Plinth sculpture, ‘THE END’ by Heather Phillipson; launching the Thames Estuary Production Corridor Case for Investment and the capital’s largest film studios in Dagenham; and delivering an online World Cities Culture Forum with cities across the world.
In response to COVID-19, our Culture Unit has also pivoted to aid our recovery from this pandemic. We’ve expanded our Culture at Risk office, provided emergency funding of £2.3m to London’s creative and night time businesses, and launched new funds for Community Spaces at Risk and community recovery projects, through Make London.

Beryl Bike Hire Scheme

Caroline Pidgeon: Despite the Beryl Bike Hire scheme being launched in formal partnership with Watford Council and with stands not being charged for rent on land owned by Watford Council, Hertfordshire County Council or by private landlords, the only organisation that is asking for rent at present appears to be TfL. Will you ensure that TfL reviews this decision and ensures its policies help encourage greater bike use throughout every area that TfL serves?

The Mayor: Beryl Bikes were offered a location at Watford station, but were unwilling to contribute financially. TfL are of course keen to encourage cycling, but providing public infrastructure free of charge for use by commercial companies is not a precedent we are prepared to set in this instance.
More so than ever, we have to maximise the return from our commercial assets, due to the financial constraints TfL currently have. Where dockless bike companies are operating in London Boroughs, arrangements for parking ordinarily are made directly between the operator and the council. This often requires a financial contribution from the operators to offset costs.
TfL is working with the Boroughs to regulate parking for all dockless bike rental companies. The policy position for this work is not to favour specific operators, and parking provision may in time extend to TfL land. As such, any parking provided for private bike rental companies at TfL stations should not be exclusive to one operator, as that sets another type of precedent we should seek to avoid.
I remain keen to work together with boroughs on all active travel initiatives and we are in contact with Watford Council on this particular matter.

BNOs (1)

Shaun Bailey: What work has the GLA undertaken to ensure the smooth arrival of British Nationals (Overseas) to London?

The Mayor: GLA officials have met with representatives of Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas), community groups and organisations supporting East and South East Asian Londoners. This is helping assess potential numbers of arrivals to London, their integration needs, and the capacity and needs of specialist organisations who represent and support Hong Kong communities. The GLAhas also engaged with the Home Office to shape proposals for an integration approach to ensure alignment with the Mayor’s ‘All of Us’ strategy for social integration. Government funding must be available to support local authorities to meet increases in demand and build capacity of specialist civil society organisations to ensure holistic support is available for arrivals to London.
I welcome the Government’s commitment to British National (Overseas) and look forward to working together to ensure arrivals from Hong Kong feel welcome in London, can access their rights and entitlements, and fully participate in in their new communities.

Dial-a-Ride

Caroline Pidgeon: TfL’s Programme and Investment committee papers for 11 December 2020 reference plans to replace the booking and scheduling system for Dial-a-Ride, so as to enable TfL to book and deliver trips more efficiently. Please set out in full the intended improvements that the new booking and scheduling system will deliver for users of Dial-a-Ride.

The Mayor: The Assisted Transport Services (ATS) booking and scheduling solution is a key deliverable of Transport for London’s ATS Roadmap. This seeks to ensure safe, convenient, flexible and integrated transport choices to Londoners with reduced mobility.
The new ATS booking and scheduling system will benefit all Londoners who require help with travel. The new solution will have to be capable of third-party integration to deliver a ‘one stop shop’ in the future, allowing customers to access multiple ATS providers through a single online portal.
The first stage is delivering a new booking and scheduling solution for the Dial-a-Ride service. The solution is intended to improve the customer experience of Dial-a-Ride members by providing an online, self-service channel for bookings and journey updates, while retaining the familiar telephone channels for those who do not have access to online options. The solution seeks to provide more flexibility and convenience for Dial-a-Ride customers by delivering more efficient and responsive scheduling of journeys.

Deputy Mayor for Business meetings (2)

Susan Hall: Please list the number of meetings held between the Deputy Mayor for Business and the taxi trade since lockdown began in March 2020, the subject of those meetings, and the outcomes of those meetings.

The Mayor: Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander is the member of my team who is responsible for engaging with stakeholders representing taxi and private hire drivers alongside TfL. In addition to the frequent conference calls TfL has held with the industry since the pandemic, Heidi met with the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) on 5 June regarding the Streetspace Programme. Heidi most recently met with taxi stakeholders, including the London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC), United Cabbies Group (UCG), RMT Taxi Branch, Unite and the LTDA, on 15 December.
TfL and I recognise the difficulties faced by both taxi and private hire drivers. This is why I have written to the Treasury to ask for the provision of targeted financial support and in the coming weeks TfL will be distributing 1.5 million face masks and 30,000 bottles of hand sanitiser for drivers.

Help for businesses

Susan Hall: What percentage of London's businesses do you estimate City Hall initiatives have engaged with (in some form) since lockdown began in March 2020?

The Mayor: It is not possible to accurately determine the extent of engagement with GLA initiatives as a percentage of businesses in London, not least because much of our engagement work is through our network of partner organisations. For example, we are continually engaging with London’s boroughs, business groups and sectoral bodies, as well as business support providers who in turn engage their extensive business networks in GLA-funded initiatives. My Business Advisory Board, London Covid Business Forum, the SCG Business and Economic Impact Subgroup, the London Business Board and the business-led London Economic Action Partnership, all of which provide avenues of direct engagement with business leaders, are at the heart of our ongoing work to support London’s economy, providing valuable insight and advice at this difficult time.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I have been offering a series of support services and grants to support businesses during these difficult times. Through the London Business Hub alone we have engaged with around 110,000 new users via our website, 8,000 businesses on a bi-weekly basis through the London Business Hub newsletter and we have achieved approximately 8,000 profile visits through social media. In addition to this, we have provided one-to-one and one-to-many support to over 1400 SMEs.
In terms of specific interventions to engage and support London’s businesses, these include:
Government funding provided to London for business support amounts to 80 pence per business in London and therefore without significant additional funding, our outreach and support has to be targeted at specific businesses and business needs.

Help for night-time venues

Susan Hall: What percentage of London's night-time venues do you estimate City Hall initiatives have engaged with (in some form) since lockdown began in March 2020?

The Mayor: London’s night-time venues have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Culture at Risk Office has supported 155 night-time venues since March 2020. My London Business Hub Advisors have provided up to 12 hours of one-to-one advice for over 189 creative businesses, including night-time venue operators.
My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency funding and dedicated advice and guidance to sustain night time venues most at risk of falling into administration due to COVID-19. Many of these venues were unable to benefit from Government schemes and Arts Council England funding. To date, £2 million has been distributed in grants to 18 grassroots music venues, 11 LGBTQ+ venues, 15 independent cinemas and 82 artist workspaces across London, supporting 11,500 individuals. In addition, my Pay It Forward London and Back to Business Funds helped at least 77 night-time businesses.

Help for London's cultural venues and businesses

Susan Hall: What percentage of London's cultural venues and businesses do you estimate City Hall initiatives have engaged with (in some form) since lockdown began in March 2020?

The Mayor: London’s culture and creative industries have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Culture at Risk Office has supported nearly 700 cases since March 2020, and London Business Hub Advisors have provided up to 12 hours of one-to-one advice for over 189 creative businesses. My Creative Enterprise Zones programme has supported over 300 affected creative businesses and protected over 1000 jobs during the pandemic.
My £2.3 million Culture at Risk Business Support Fund is providing emergency funding, advice and guidance to those most at risk of falling into administration due to COVID-19. Many of these venues were unable to benefit from Government schemes and funding. To date, £2 million has been distributed in grants to 18 grassroots music venues, 11 LGBTQ+ venues, 15 independent cinemas and 82 artist workspaces across London, supporting 11,500 individuals. The fund is also providing access to advice and guidance to 175 night-time venues. My Pay It Forward London and Back to Business Funds have helped 150 cultural venues and businesses.

Solar potential on the Transport for London estate (2)

Caroline Russell: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1003 on the solar potential of the Transport for London (TfL) estate. I understand from the list of paused projects in the TfL Board meeting of 29 July 2020 that the original plans for solar roof installation are “paused in favour of development of larger strategic solar installations to be funded using third party investment.” Could you explain the current plans for solar installations on the TfL estate, from where you will find third party investment and confirm when you will publish a report on the solar potential of the TfL estate?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is currently investigating the feasibility of identifying and delivering direct connections between low carbon third party energy generators and TfL’s power infrastructure. An early market engagement exercise was carried out in November 2018 to identify potential low carbon generators across London in the proximity of TfL’s infrastructure. This work has been developed further and a full market sounding questionnaire will be published this financial year to gauge appetite for third party investment in solar electricity panels. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a planned TfL report on the solar potential of its estate has been delayed, but it will be published by the end of this financial year.

Highbury Corner

Caroline Russell: The Commissioner’s Report to Transport for London (TfL) dated 9 December says that: “all remaining snagging and defect works were completed at the end of October 2020,” at Highbury Corner. Local residents, and people passing through on foot and by bike, have raised the need for local wayfinding signage to connect to destinations and other nearby routes, such as the new Liverpool Road pop-up bike lane. Will you provide local wayfinding signage at this and other major junction schemes?

The Mayor: As part of the Highbury Corner scheme, Legible London wayfinding signs have been installed to provide maps of the local area and other wayfinding information. Transport for London is also investigating suitable ways to enhance signing of pedestrian and cycle routes, including the introduction of digital mapping, anticipated to start in first quarter of 2021 as part of the London Streetspace Plan.

Crossrail

David Kurten: How will TfL ensure the final phase of Crossrail is on time and on budget?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Commissioner is now fully accountable for the delivery of the project and will oversee its operations once it becomes the Elizabeth line. The transition of the project to TfL provides him with the necessary control over the project. Crossrail is a top priority for the Commissioner, and he has been clear that his intention is that there will be no further slippage on schedule and that additional costs are minimised. On 1 December 2020 it was announced that the Mayor of London, TfL, the Department for Transport (DfT) and HM Treasury have confirmed an agreed funding and financing package for the final phase of the Crossrail project. Under the agreement the Greater London Authority will borrow up to £825 million from the DfT, which will be given to TfL as a grant for the purposes of the Crossrail project.
The first phase of the transition was for the governance of the project to sit directly with TfL, this took place on 1 October. This ensures that decision making between Crossrail and TfL is seamless and fully aligned during the critical final phases of the programme as operational testing is undertaken and the remaining parts of the railway are completed and transferred to TfL. The Commissioner chairs the Elizabeth Line Delivery Group, and Board level oversight will be provided by the Elizabeth Line Committee, chaired by the Deputy Chair of TfL and Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander.
The second phase of the transition to TfL focuses on the effective transition of people, back office and some of the assets. It provides an opportunity for TfL to streamline and remove duplication; and where work is transitioning to TfL, it gives the opportunity to remove excess costs.
Over time further phases of the transition will take place. In the meantime, the Commissioner and leadership team at TfL will work closely with Crossrail to ensure the opening of the central section in the first half of 2022 or sooner.

Bridge condition indicators

Caroline Russell: The Times reported on 3 December 2020 that data provided by Transport for London (TfL) in April 2019 showed that 200 out of 500 bridges and other structures it maintains had key sections in poor or very poor condition. Could you provide an up to date list of bridges maintained by TfL, as previously provided to The Times, including details of current Bridge Condition Indicators (BCI) and ratings?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has provided an up to date structure condition report in the attached file. This is an update of the report that was provided in April 2019 as part of FOI request FOI-0156-1920.
Bridges and structures form a vital part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) and TfL maintains them in accordance with safety and serviceability standards. A fundamental requirement to achieve high maintenance standards and to allow asset owners to understand the condition of their structural stock is to regularly undertake Safety, General and Principal Inspections of Highway Structures. These inspections identify elements that might need further inspection, testing, monitoring, repair or replacement and allow these works to be prioritised in accordance with their urgency and with the aim to guarantee safety and best value for money.
Each structure is broken down into its elemental parts when inspected and scored on its condition by the severity of any defect and measured against the extent. Through a nationally agreed asset management system – Bridgestation – further refinement of the inspection data allows a numerical score – Bridge Condition Indicator – to be calculated, with one specifically targeted at the primary structural elements (BCI crit) and one that encompasses the entire structure (BCI av).
This allows for a very detailed condition and risk profile to be identified and understood for each structural asset, which in turn facilitates a very targeted maintenance and asset management regime. For the avoidance of doubt, a low BCI does not suggest the structure is unsafe. This scoring identifies that enhanced inspections and/or temporary repair works are required and undertaken.

Financial Health of Young People Survey

Caroline Russell: In your oral response to my question 2018/0939 on 7 May 2018, you said: “City Hall recently conducted a representative survey of young people in London that showed less than half could identify having learned anything at school about how to manage money,” and told me that survey was due to be published on 6 June 2018. Could you share this survey and any subsequent surveys on the financial health of young Londoners?

The Mayor: This survey is available on the London Datastore as part of our February 2018 YouGov/GLA polling of 16–24-year-olds (https://data.london.gov.uk/gla-poll-results/2018-2/). In that survey 63% of respondents said they didn’t learn anything at school on how to manage their money. As part of the most recent in Survey of Londoners, we also asked about young people’s financial wellbeing covering savings and use of bank accounts but not learning at school.
In November 2018 I held a summit of education providers, banks, charities and technology companies to identify the challenges of improving the financial skills of young Londoners in partnership with Money and Advice Service and the education charity Young Enterprise. More recently, the Young Londoners Fund has supported several projects that provide various aspects of financial support to young people.
Through the work of the London Recovery Board, I have ensured that young people’s financial wellness is a focus as part of the missions for a ‘Robust Safety Net’ and ‘New Deal for Young People’.

The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution (1)

Leonie Cooper: In ‘The ten point plan for a green industrial revolution’ the Government sets out an expansion of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods schemes. How much of this funding is expected to come to London?

The Mayor: The Prime Minister’s ‘Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution’ makes reference to the Government’s commitment to invest £2bn in walking and cycling schemes over the next five years, including new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, school streets and segregated cycling facilities.
In 20/21, the Government allocated £250m of this funding to local authorities in England through the Active Travel Fund, including £25m of funding for London. Transport for London has worked with the Department for Transport to allocate this amongst the London boroughs.
It is currently unclear whether London will be eligible for further allocations from the Active Travel Fund in 21/22 and beyond. We will continue to make the case that a proportion of this funding should be available for schemes to be delivered in the capital.

Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2023

Murad Qureshi: Now that the End date for project starts on site has moved from March 2022 to March 2023 can you confirm what the new a) End date for project completions on site (SPs and CME) and b) End date for project completions on site (LTSPs) are?

The Mayor: In the AHP 2021-2026 programme the end date for project completions on site for SPs and CME is 31 March 2028 and for LTSPs is 31 March 2029.

Zero Emissions Buses in London (5)

Leonie Cooper: Do you know if there are plans to replace the EU air quality law which we have been measuring London’s air quality against?

The Mayor: Yes. The draft Environment Bill mandates the setting of two air quality targets, including one for PM2.5. However, the Bill only requires these targets to be set by October 2022 and the targets themselves may not need to be achieved for 15 years or more. Greater urgency and ambition is needed for the protection of human health. The draft Bill is currently in Parliament and Government has opened a call for evidence to inform the development of the PM2.5 target, which the GLA has responded to through the submission of our report on tackling PM2.5 in London, available here: https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publication...,
The air quality limits set out in the 2008 European Directive on Ambient Air Quality and transposed into UK regulations have been instrumental in improving air quality and holding Government to account for achieving their implementation. It is of huge concern that the number of standards could be reduced or their enforcement weakened following Brexit if the new Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) does not have the proper powers to hold Government to account.
Poor air quality remains the biggest environmental risk to health. It is essential that Government maintains the legal standards outlined in the Directive. But I have also called on them to go further and adopt the stricter WHO guidelines for PM2.5 as a legally binding limit within the Environment Bill. The Bill also needs to ensure the proposed OEP has the powers needed to hold the Government to account.
I have adopted a target of meeting the WHO guidelines by 2030 in my Environment Strategy and will continue to work toward these, including by expanding the ULEZ up to the North and South Circular roads next October. But it is past time for Government to step up, match my ambition, and adopt the legal standards we need to eradicate harmful levels of air pollution once and for all.

Demographics of people housed by GLA hotels programme

Siân Berry: Could you provide a breakdown of the people, both ever and currently, housed in the GLA hotels programme to house homeless people during the coronavirus pandemic by gender and age, including how many of those are under 25, and separately provide data on how many of those housed in hotels have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)?

The Mayor: As part of the ‘Everyone In’ programme the GLA has provided COVID-safe accommodation to rough sleepers regardless of their immigration status. Of the 1,791 people that have been accommodated to date, 713 guests were EU nationals and 494 were from countries outside the EU.
Many non-UK nationals in this accommodation have full entitlements in the UK, but there are also large numbers of non-UK nationals who have unclear or insecure immigration status. GLA officers estimate that currently over 50% of guests in the hotels might have no recourse to public funds but they continue to work with our specialist support services to determine their rights and entitlements and to support any applications they can make to obtain secure status and access to public funds.
I continue to urge the Government to provide sufficient funding to continue this work, and to suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds restrictions.

Government’s Building Safety Fund Delay

Joanne McCartney: My constituents who are leaseholders and residents living in ‘The Pavillions’ (Crane Heights, Merlin Heights, Egret Heights, Kingfisher Heights, Lapwing Heights and Eagle Heights) in Tottenham, N17 have raised concerns regarding delays by the Government’s Building Safety Fund (BSF). Although an application was made on time to the BSF their freeholder, Lee Valley Estates, and Managing Agent, Pinnacle, have reported concern at the lack of engagement from the BSF around completion of the application process. Can you make representations to Government about this matter?

The Mayor: Building owners wishing to apply for funding from the Building Safety Fund (BSF) must first register with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) who confirm building eligibility for the Fund. Once eligibility is confirmed these buildings are passed over to the GLA, who act as delivery partner in London, and building owners can proceed with their full application. My team are aware of delays in passing eligible buildings over to the GLA and concerns have been raised with MHCLG about these issues. Staff from the GLA’s building safety team have also been deployed to assist MHCLG in order to speed up the process. This is having a positive impact and that buildings are now being passed over to the GLA more rapidly.

Clapham High Street expansion of platforms

Caroline Pidgeon: A constituent has contacted me asking what consideration has been given to the proposal set out in the Centre for London report ‘Turning London Orange’ which advocated Clapham High Street Station gaining additional platforms to allow Southeastern Metro trains to stop. This would allow faster trains to Victoria taking people off the critically congested Northern Line at Clapham North or overcrowded buses to Stockwell, as well as providing much faster orbital journeys from Clapham High Street. Please set out your response to these proposals.

The Mayor: Transport for London is not opposed to the existing Southeastern service between Gravesend / Dartford and Victoria calling at Clapham High Street, should the Department for Transport (whose responsibilities include this service) wish to take this idea forward. However, there would need to be clear consideration of the impact any change to stopping patterns would have on the wider capacity of the rail network. This could significantly affect the value for money of any proposal, which is indeed likely to require the construction of additional platforms.

Platform Capacity at Liverpool Street (2)

Joanne McCartney: Will platform space at Liverpool Street be allocated to allow extra services on the Enfield Town/Cheshunt London Overground service?

The Mayor: It is highly unlikely that platform capacity can be reallocated at Liverpool Street to support the objective of providing additional London Overground services on the Enfield Town and Cheshunt routes. Although platforms 16 and 17 at Liverpool Street are not planned to be used during off-peak periods once the full Crossrail network has opened, they cannot be used directly by London Overground services because they are on the wrong side of the station.
Opportunities for Greater Anglia services to use platforms 16 and 17 are also severely limited as the platforms are shorter than the trains normally deployed by Greater Anglia during off peak periods. This severely limits the potential for moving Greater Anglia services to free up platform capacity that could then be used by London Overground services.
Any allocation of platform space at Liverpool Street would ultimately be determined in line with the processes governing access to the rail network, as defined by the Network Code.
Please also these my response to Mayors Question 2020/4503.

Platform Capacity at Liverpool Street (1)

Joanne McCartney: What plans are there to re-allocate platform space at Liverpool Street once Crossrail has opened?

The Mayor: Some Elizabeth line services will continue to use two of the existing Liverpool Street station platforms during peak periods once the full Crossrail network opens, and as such any potential reallocation of platform space is only possible during off peak periods. Transport for London and other affected operators are working with Network Rail (as owners of the infrastructure concerned) to explore how best to exploit any opportunities created by the opening of Crossrail at Liverpool Street station. This process is expected to conclude in summer 2021.

Camberwell Station

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide an update on the status of Camberwell Station and any plans you have to support its re-opening? Have any steps been taken to make use of the Department for Transport Restoring Your Railway Fund?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) published a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the potential reopening of Camberwell Station on 18 September 2018. The SOBC showed that, although the provision of the station would clearly improve connectivity, there would also be adverse impacts on existing rail users, while a lack of significant development opportunities means funding would be harder to achieve. Overall, TfL considers that proceeding with this project would not be a good use of public funds at this time.
It should be noted that although TfL undertook this work, the station would be built on Network Rail infrastructure and be served by National Rail services, neither of which fall under TfL’s direct control.
TfL understands that Southwark Council made an application for funding to develop the case for reopening Camberwell station from the Department for Transport’s Restoring Your Railway fund, but the bid was unsuccessful.

Motorbike KSIs

Caroline Pidgeon: I understand 31 motorcyclists were killed on London’s roads in 2019, up from 22 in 2018. Has any examination been undertaken whether a contributory factor to the level of KSIs among these road users has possibly been the use of learner motorcyclists and uninsured drivers for food deliveries, a practice which was highlighted by a report in the Sunday Times on the 22nd November?

The Mayor: There was a worrying increase in the number of motorcycle riders killed from 2018 to 2019, and provisional data from 2020 confirms this worrying trend, with 30 riders having died on London’s roads to date.
Data regarding injury collisions on London’s streets is collected by the Metropolitan and City of London police using criteria set out by the Department for Transport. This requires the officer attending a collision to record whether any of those involved were driving for work at the time of the collision, but not the specific type of work that they may be engaged in. It is therefore not possible to reliably determine whether changes in patterns of food delivery driving are a factor that is resulting in changes in casualty patterns. It may also not be clear to the officer attending a specific incident whether one or more of the participants is driving for work.
Despite these limitations, data for the three years to 2019 shows that the proportion of deaths and serious injuries among PTW riders who were riding for work (excluding commuting) fell from 161 in 2017 to 147 in 2019. The proportion of total deaths and serious injuries associated with driving for work has remained broadly constant at 14-15%. Although this proportion is not rising, there are still too many people being injured while motorcycling as part of their work. Transport for London has introduced guidance on motorcycle safety into the Fleet Operator Recognition Standard for commercial fleet operators and is holding constructive discussions with companies operating in the delivery sector to reinforce safety messaging and identify opportunities to strengthen safety standards in that industry.
2017
2018
2019
Total PTW fatalities
31
22
31
PTW fatalities while carrying out a journey as part of work
1
1
0
Total PTW riders killed or seriously injured
1099
1080
1019
Killed or seriously injured while carrying out a journey as part of work
161
149
147
KSI during a work journey as a proportion of total
15%
14%
14%

Use-class order changes in London

Nicky Gavron: Changes to the E use-class order, which amalgamates; shops, financial and professional services, business, non-residential institutions, and leisure into one use-class came into effect from the 1st of September 2020. How are you monitoring the impact of these changes to highstreets in London?

The Mayor: This is an important issue and one which I am concerned about. Since changes of use within the new Use Class E do not require planning permission, however, it will not be possible to monitor changes of use within this new Use Class through the London Development Database.
I intend instead to monitor the impact of new Use Class E on high streets through the London town centre health check which will be reliant upon, and subject to, third party data sources. The town centre health check provides periodic snapshots of the balance of uses in town centres, including shops, financial and professional services, business, non-residential institutions and leisure. This will inform our ongoing work with boroughs and other stakeholders to understand the impacts of the new Use Class E and to consider appropriate and feasible mitigations.

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries (1)

Susan Hall: What specific work is the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries currently working on?

The Mayor: London’s culture, creative industries and night time businesses have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Deputy Mayor, Justine Simons OBE, is supporting this essential part of London’s economy and social fabric, to secure jobs and plan for the safe reopening of cultural businesses.
My Deputy Mayor is supporting cultural organisations and creative businesses who have been impacted by the second lockdown and Tier 2 restrictions . She is working with industry to lobby government on the impacts of Tier 3 on London’s economy; advocating for the creative industries in any trade deal with the EU, to mitigate the devastating impacts that a No-Deal scenario would have; co-leading research on supporting London’s crucial Central Activities Zone; and aiding cultural organisations across London in planning for wider reopening in 2021.
Under her leadership, my Culture team is delivering on my Culture Strategy, Culture for all Londoners. This includes supporting community recovery through London Borough of Culture, and economic recovery through my Creative Industries Growth Programme.

Lack of affordable housing in the London Legacy Development Corporation area

Siân Berry: What are you doing about the fact that the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) area is currently predicted to only provide 22 per cent affordable housing, compared with its target of 50 per cent?

The Mayor: Since 2014, 2,270 affordable homes have been completed across the wider LLDC Area, 22% of total housing delivery.
Various factors have impacted delivery, including the implementation of historic planning permissions under my predecessor. From 2017 onwards, schemes which have been granted approval are generally achieving at least 35 per cent affordable housing, in line with my Affordable Housing and Viability SPG and the LLDC Local Plan.
The 50 per cent affordable homes target applies to public (LLDC and other publicly owned) land, and not private developments in the wider MDC area.
Three neighbourhoods were consented under my predecessor. Chobham Manor will provide 35 per cent affordable housing (up from 28 per cent under the original consent), while East Wick and Sweetwater will offer c34 per cent. Stratford Waterfront, Pudding Mill and Rick Roberts Way will deliver an additional 2,600 homes over the next 12 years and I have invested almost £200 million in City Hall funding to boost affordable housing delivery across these sites to 50 per cent. LLDC will also deliver 50 per cent affordable housing across the three sites it owns within the masterplan area for Hackney Wick Neighbourhood Centre.

Data on rough sleepers

Siân Berry: How have the numbers of homeless people sleeping rough across London changed since the last figures released by CHAIN? Could you share any up-to-date weekly figures to help with winter policy discussions?

The Mayor: Latest unpublished data, from the end of September 2020 to the beginning of November 2020, shows an average of 425 people were recorded on CHAIN as sleeping rough in London each week, of which an average of 27% (116 people each week) were new to the streets. This data is being used to inform my lobbying of Government for more resources to keep rough sleepers COVID-safe this winter.

Mayor's Transport Strategy - Taxis

Keith Prince: Given the dramatic decrease in vehicles, does the Mayor agree that a fully wheelchair accessible, emissions target achieving taxi fleet should be included in his 80% target within his 2018 Transport Strategy?

The Mayor: The success of London’s future transport system relies on reducing Londoners’ dependency on cars in favour of active, efficient and sustainable modes of travel. This shift will help address many of the health, congestion and environmental challenges we face as a city. Accordingly, Policy 1 of my Transport Strategy sets out my aim for 80 per cent of trips in London to be made on foot, bicycle or public transport by 2041.
It would be inappropriate for taxis to be included in this 80 per cent target given they do not contribute to our aims to increase Londoners physical activity and given they do create emissions, including from tyre and brake wear. However, taxis and PHVs will continue to play a role in London’s future transport mix, catering for some of the 20 per cent of trips in 2041 that are not expected to be made by foot, cycle or public transport. My Transport Strategy states that taxis are an important mode of transport that provide an accessible, door-to-door service for Londoners and visitors, and that’s why Policy 20 of my Transport Strategy seeks to ensure London has a safe, secure and accessible world-class taxi service.

London housing data survey and analysis

Siân Berry: The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) publishes a detailed factsheet on the accessibility of existing homes as part of the English Housing Survey (EHS) (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2018-acc...). The data is not broken down by region because of the small sample size. However, for other measures, such as for overcrowding as part of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment, the GLA carries out analysis of EHS data at a London level, based on a three-year rolling average. Have your officers done the same with this detailed accessibility data? If so, could you share this analysis with me and, if not, could you commission and provide this information?

The Mayor: My officers have not produced an equivalent analysis at London level, and the detailed data required to do so is not yet available. When it becomes available my team will consider the feasibility of carrying out a similar analysis at the London level.

Action against developers of buildings with unsafe cladding

Siân Berry: In your answer to question 2020/3826 you state: “In September I wrote to more than 40 building owners who have failed to begin the remediation of unsafe ACM cladding demanding that they accelerate their plans to remove cladding and supply my officers with a timetable for action. Since then 13 of these buildings have begun remediation work.” Could you share with me the timetable for the 13 buildings on which work has started, as well as what action you are taking in respect of the owners of the 27 buildings that have yet to start remediation of unsafe cladding?

The Mayor: The GLA does not share details of specific projects for safety reasons. The average duration of works is forecasted to be 32 weeks for buildings in London; individual projects, however, can take any time from two days to over two years. My officers are regular contact with building owners to assist them in progressing works, with the vast majority due to have begun remediation work by the end of 2020.
I am pleased to say that since my reply to question 2020/3826, the number of buildings owned by building owners I wrote to in September that have started on site has increased from 13 to 35.

The Mayor's Culture Strategy (2)

Susan Hall: How many of the policy and actions have been achieved in the Mayor's Culture Strategy to date? (Beginning at Page 160 of the document).

The Mayor: My Culture Strategy, Culture for All Londoners, is the most ambitious culture strategy of any administration to date.
In March 2020, I published a One Year On report outlining achievements up to March 2020. https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/oneyearon_web_upload.pdf
We are making progress across the full range of activities set out in the strategy, and achieved the following since March 2020: Brent’s 2020 London Borough of Culture programme; launching a £1.3m skills programme in three Creative Enterprise Zones; unveiling the 13th Fourth Plinth sculpture, ‘THE END’ by Heather Phillipson; launching the Thames Estuary Production Corridor Case for Investment and the capital’s largest film studios in Dagenham; and delivering an online World Cities Culture Forum with cities across the world.
In response to COVID-19, our Culture Unit has also pivoted to aid our recovery from this pandemic. We’ve expanded our Culture at Risk office, provided emergency funding of £2.3m to London’s creative and night time businesses, and launched new funds for Community Spaces at Risk and community recovery projects, through Make London.

School funding

Jennette Arnold: National Association of Head Teachers has warned that we may see a mass exodus of teachers post-covid as they are facing burn-out and unprecedented levels of stress. What work are you doing to support teachers in London?

The Mayor: Effective quality school leadership has never been more important. My Getting Ahead London programme has been adapted to support middle and senior management to overcome the challenges teachers and students are facing due to Covid-19.
New sessions and speakers have been added to focus on mental health and well-being. Participants on the programme also benefit from the support of their coach, and the wider group of teachers taking part in Getting Ahead London, with whom they can share action they are taking and discuss the unprecedented pressures of this year.
My Stepping Into Leadership programme aims to encourage people from ethnic minority backgrounds into teaching and to stay and progress onto school leadership. Its recent launch event focused on mental health and well-being in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minority communities.

Small workspaces

Andrew Boff: What planning protections do you intend to introduce for small industrial and creative workspaces?

The Mayor: My new London Plan supports the provision, and where appropriate, protection of a range of business space through borough Local Plans, to meet the needs of SMEs including industrial and creative workspace. Furthermore, the Plan contains policy which supports the provision of affordable workspace through local development plans and through development proposals where appropriate, for sectors that have cultural value including creative workspace and makerspace. My Plan also encourages boroughs to work with us and relevant stakeholders to identify Creative Enterprise Zones in Local Plans which support the development, enhancement and protection of new and existing creative workspace.
Existing planning protections for such types of workspace have been undermined by the government’s new Use Class E which means that any creative or light industrial workspace can change to any of the other uses in Class E without the need for planning permission. This will be further exacerbated by the government’s latest proposals for permitted development rights to allow commercial uses within Class E to change to housing. I will be writing to government on this matter in due course.

Adapting Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (2)

Leonie Cooper: Do you think the messaging from Grant Shapps MP and Government about the purpose of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods has been fully understood by Londoners?

The Mayor: One of the areas where Grant Shapps MP, the Government and I agree on is the need to avoid a car based recovery. I am therefore pleased that the Government has continued to prioritise funding for active travel in London, including for more cycle lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), in the latest funding agreement. Transport for London is currently coordinating a London-wide monitoring and survey programme to understand the impact of LTNs, and is working with the London boroughs to support them in communicating their purpose and intended benefits.

Breakdown of GLA Press Officers

Shaun Bailey: Please can you provide a breakdown of how many press and media officers are employed by the GLA and in each of the functional bodies. Please can you also provide details of the associated costs?

The Mayor: There are currently 24 press and media officers employed at the GLA. These are employed in both the Assembly Secretariat and in the Mayor’s Press Office. In 2019/20 there were 25 press and media officers with a total salary cost of £1,416,669.
MOPAC & OPDC
MOPAC and OPDC do not employ press and media officers. Their press and media services are provided by the Mayor’s Press Office at the GLA.
London Fire Brigade (LFB)
The media team at London Fire Brigade consists of six staff (one News Manager, three Senior Communications Officers and two Communications Officers). The total cost of the LFB media team, including an out of hours allowance budget, is £352,066.47.
London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC)
The LLDC currently employs two Press Officers at a total salary cost of £108,649.84
Transport for London (TfL)
In 2019/20 the full-time equivalent posts within TfL’s Press Office was 25.6. The associated staff costs including National Insurance and pension contributions were £1,920,000

Adapting Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (1)

Leonie Cooper: Which boroughs have you worked with to adapt low traffic neighbourhoods so they can better impact the areas they are placed in?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has engaged with all boroughs throughout the bidding and funding allocation process to deliver the best possible schemes to reduce through traffic on residential roads, whilst minimising the impact of the London Streetspace Programme on strategic traffic movement.
Although boroughs are responsible for design choices on roads for which they are the designated Traffic Authority, TfL has provided extensive guidance. TfL have also facilitated ongoing liaison with the emergency services about the impact of schemes, which has led to innovative thinking and numerous design changes. This includes the use of camera-enforced filters in some locations to ensure rapid access for emergency service vehicles without compromising on the traffic reduction benefits that residents deserve.

London’s dirty air increases risk of catching Covid-19

Onkar Sahota: Research by Queen Mary University has found that London’s dirty air increases risk of catching Covid-19. What steps are you taking to urgently tackle air quality in light of the pandemic?

The Mayor: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the way air pollution affects health; not only is there growing evidence of a potential link between exposure and the severity of the illness but long term exposure to high levels of air pollution has long been known to contribute to the underlying conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, that exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms. The GLA is carefully monitoring this field of research as it evolves, and I will continue to be led by the best available science.
I am taking many steps to tackle air quality in London. My Streetspace for London scheme is encouraging people to walk, cycle or scoot more whilst discouraging an increase in car use in London. The expansion of the ULEZ in October 2021 out to the North and South Circular roads. TfL is leading by example ensuring that its buses meet the cleanest Euro VI standard and there are now more than 3,700 zero emission capable taxis on London’s streets. Additionally, I have supported the delivery of over 289 rapid charge points and over 2,000 standard charge points across London.

BNOs (2)

Shaun Bailey: What estimates has the GLA made of how many British National (Overseas) will move to London?

The Mayor: The GLA has met with the Home Office and community organisations representing Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas), conducted data analysis to understand the Hong Kong diaspora in London, and modelled arrival numbers under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa from 31 January 2021.
Estimates by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office suggest a range of between 257,000 and 322,000 arrivals to the UK over five years or a plausible, but more unlikely, range of between 9,000 and 1,050,000. These estimates are subject to a high degree of uncertainty due to lack of data and reliance on several assumptions.
The GLA estimates that, should new arrivals follow similar patterns of settlement shown by analysis of the 2011 Census and language and ethnicity data, a third may choose to come to London.

Homeless Young People (5)

Murad Qureshi: With a 40% increase in under-25s seen sleeping rough compared to the same period last year and young people now making up a record high proportion of rough sleepers, what steps are you taking to ensure access to age-appropriate accommodation and support for young people facing homelessness in the capital this Winter, particularly those aged 16-25?

The Mayor: Local authorities have a statutory obligation to assist young people facing or experiencing homelessness, with particular duties to those aged 16 and 17 or leaving local authority care. Very sadly, some young people do still end up on the streets and I am very concerned by the recent increase in their numbers.
There are a range of factors here. We know young people have been hard hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19. Those who are non-UK nationals may not be entitled to help from local authorities under the homelessness legislation. Common arrangements, whereby young people stay with family or friends, broke down during lockdown.
In my response to the recent Mayor’s Question 2020/3829, I reported that we worked with charities to provide safe accommodation to over 150 people aged under 25 as part of the ‘Everyone In’ response to rough sleepers. I also explained the work I am doing to ensure young people who have recently started sleeping rough receive specialist support.
In recognition of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on young people, and the rise in youth homelessness, this year my winter rough sleeping fundraising campaign will raise money for four youth homelessness charities. The generosity of Londoners is hugely appreciated and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in previous years. However, it is vital that the Government steps up and provides the additional funding we need to help rough sleepers this winter.

Parks and Recreation Space (2)

Nicky Gavron: Sports teams are facing financial pressures as a result of the pandemic. Do you envision pitches being lost to developers if the clubs go out of business, and what can you do about it?

The Mayor: The role of Sports now is more important than ever in supporting London’s recovery. I signed the London Funders joint statement pledging support to civil society groups affected by COVID-19. I contributed £7.6 million to the London Community Response Fund with £450,000 dedicated to sports. As part of this pledge, my Sports team adapted their mid-term strategic priorities to focus on supporting the sector, relieving social isolation and improving Londoners’ mental wellbeing.
My investment in Community Sport is revenue based and funds grassroots organisations under my £8.8m programme, Sport Unites. I am currently working with officers to scope future investment in community sport.
My London Plan Policy S5 sets out protections to prevent any net loss of sporting facilities, except where there is a surplus as identified by a needs assessment. Many existing pitches are located on open space and may have additional protection through Green Belt, Metropolitan Open Land or other designations.

E-Scooter Trial

Alison Moore: What criteria will you use to select the three e-scooter rental providers that will participate in the rental e-scooters trial due to start next year, and under what conditions will they be able to operate?

The Mayor: On 17 November 2020, Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils launched the procurement process to select up to three operators for a multi-borough London rental e-scooter trial.
Safety is TfL’s top priority, and the purpose of taking a collaborative approach between TfL, London Councils and the boroughs is to ensure consistent safety standards that are as high as possible.
Operators will be assessed on their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards, with a focus on safety, maintenance, rider education, parking, environmental impacts and inclusion, as well as their ability to mobilise and work with a range of partners and stakeholders.
Selected operators will be subject to regular ongoing monitoring throughout the trial, and operations will be able to be suspended if necessary.

Homeless Young People (1)

Murad Qureshi: The latest data on rough sleeping in London covering July to September shows that 18-25-year olds are the only age group with more people rough sleeping this year than in the same period in 2019. In fact, it shows a 48% increase in the numbers, from 248 to 366. Why do you think there has been an increase in rough sleeping in this age group?

The Mayor: Young people have been hit particularly hard by the COVID pandemic, with the instability, lack of opportunities and unstable employment leading hundreds into homelessness for the first time. In addition, homeless young people often face insecure accommodation options such as sofa surfing with friends and travelling on night buses etc, sometimes interspersed with short periods of rough sleeping. Understandably, during the pandemic sofa surfing has not been possible, forcing many more young people to sleep rough, or to sleep rough for longer periods than previously.
I am concerned that as temporary protections for renters come to an end, along with the end of the furlough scheme next year, more young people will find themselves pushed onto the streets. I have been lobbying ministers to put in place permanent reforms to the private rented sector, and to increase benefits available through the welfare system to help protect renters and prevent more young people becoming homeless.

Homeless Young People (2)

Murad Qureshi: David Eastwood, the GLA’s Rough Sleeping Lead said at last month’s Housing Committee that DePaul was running a dedicated service for under‑25s and under‑35s at the hotel provision in Wandsworth. Can you provide some more details on what this dedicated service looks like and what the early results are?

The Mayor: This service, launched on 9 November 2020, supports rough sleepers aged 18 to 34. It is operating within a dedicated young people’s floor of a GLA-procured hotel in Wandsworth, where people referred to the Mayor’s new ‘triage hubs’ can be accommodated. The hubs provides assessment and support for those new to the street. Depaul is providing on-site support five days a week, comprehensively assessing clients’ needs, and finding safe, affordable longer-term accommodation, with ongoing support if required. Depaul has access to a move-on and resettlement budget to cover deposits and/or rent in advance for clients moving into the private rented sector.
The service has so far supported 24 young people (3 aged under 25, and 21 aged under 35), four of whom have already moved on into longer-term accommodation. Nine have also been supported to engage with services relating to mental health, drugs and alcohol, and employment education and training to date.

Homeless Young People (3)

Murad Qureshi: Do you feel a pan-London youth homelessness strategy is needed, given there is a relatively small number of young rough sleepers in some boroughs, so it is a challenge for those boroughs to provide specialist services?

The Mayor: Specifically in relation to young people sleeping rough, as I highlighted in my response to the recent Mayor’s Question 2020/3829, I tasked a sub-group of my Life Off the Streets taskforce to explore the scale and nature of rough sleeping among young people and solutions needed across London. The COVID crisis has delayed progress with some of this work, understandably, but I will work with the sub-group as it follows through its plans in due course. Future work will include taking on board learning from the specialist service for young people I recently commissioned in future commissioning of rough sleeping services.
A wider youth homelessness strategy would need to be driven by local authorities, given their statutory obligations to young people facing or experiencing homelessness. London boroughs do already collaborate in their responses to youth homelessness, with London Councils funding the London Youth Gateway. This partnership between New Horizon Youth Centre, Depaul, Shelter and LGBT Jigsaw provides advice and support for young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Mass evacuation simulations

Andrew Dismore: Is there a timetable for more mass evacuation simulations? Please provide details of the timetable.

The Mayor: The emergency evacuation and mass rescue exercises that were scheduled in 2020 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing requirements. However, training on the new high rise and evacuation policies is being undertaken as computer based training with online assessment to confirm understanding, face-to-face training with facilitated workshops used to explore key areas, and a Guided Learning exercise – to bring the three policies together and consolidate learning from the three policies. The policies will not go live until 80 per cent of all operational staff have completed all three training elements. Following the policies going live, there will be extensive practical exercising carried out across London. The timetable for this will be determined at a future date.

Cost of waking watches

Andrew Dismore: What is the financial impact on the LFB of continuing responsibilities for checking ‘waking watches’ in high-rise residential buildings where these are required post-Grenfell as ‘stay put’ policies have been suspended because of dangerous cladding?

The Mayor: Work on the identification, inspection and monitoring of buildings with potentially combustible cladding has been undertaken through reallocation of resources within London Fire Brigade. So, although there have been impacts on other work such as the number of routine fire safety inspections for other, lower risk, premises and non-emergency work undertaken by fire crews, new direct financial burdens have not arisen for this work. Some staffing for the operation and monitoring of the checks undertaken has been necessary but this is currently funded from additional Government grant, so does not impose a new financial burden on London Fire Brigade.

Maintaining LFB’s Budget

Andrew Dismore: Will the Mayor ensure the London Fire Brigade’s budget is maintained to ensure it can deliver on its transformation plan drawn up in response to the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the subsequent inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS)?

The Mayor: I am committed to ensuring the recommendations for London Fire Brigade (LFB) from both the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) are implemented, and to hold to account thoseresponsible for putting the remaining recommendations into practice. LFB’s Transformation Delivery Plan is being implemented, with all actions underway and many complete. This work will continue until the plan is implemented in full.
Along with the Metropolitan Police Service, I have asked LFB to make the smallest percentage of savings across the GLA Group.The London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, and his team have been working through how savings will be made. The deadline for the Commissioner to respond to my budget guidance is 30th November. I continue to discuss these matters with the Commissioner as the proposals are finalised.

Residents’ discount to the Congestion Charge (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: If the removal of the residents’ discount to the Congestion Charge continues beyond the 31 March 2021 will you ensure that a full examination is also given of the exemption rules that currently exist to the Congestion Charge? Will you further ensure that full consideration is given to the needs of carers and other individuals who have specific needs? Will you also ensure that any change in the policy involves an Equality Impact Assessment?

The Mayor: The current temporary changes to the Congestion Charge were informed by an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), which includes an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), as well as feedback from the public and stakeholders. This resulted in new and enhanced reimbursement schemes for those with a particular need to drive within the Congestion Charge Zone. This includes an expanded NHS staff reimbursement scheme, to cover more trips by those in a Covid-19 response role, and an expanded patient scheme to cover those more at risk of Covid-19 in addition to those clinically assessed as too ill, weak or disabled to travel to an appointment by public transport. . There are also new, temporary reimbursement schemes forpeople working at registered care homes within the zone, domiciliary care workers contracted or funded by a local authority, local authority staff, charity staff and volunteers who are undertaking journeys to directly support vital Covid-19 response work within the zone.
The Congestion Charge including the scheme’s discounts and exemptions are kept under review as per my Transport Strategy. TfL is continuing to assess the impact of the temporary changes to the scheme and if any permanent changes are proposed an updated IIA, including an EQIA will be completed and proposals would be subject to a full public consultation.

Anti-Racism

David Kurten: On 13 October 2020, you declared City Hall ‘a committedly anti-racist organisation’1. Given the present uncertainty surrounding the future location of the Greater London Authority, I would be grateful if you could clarify for me if that designation also applies to the GLA offices at Union Street and the Crystal Building at Royal Victoria Dock, or will those buildings be the subject of future anti-racist mayoral pronouncements?

1https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-declares-city-hall-an-anti-racist-body

The Mayor: I am committed to leading an actively anti-racist organisation, and that applies across all our current and future workplaces. I encourage all GLA staff wherever they are based to be proudly anti-racist.

Masks for TfL

Shaun Bailey: How many masks has TfL bought per month since February 2020? Please provide breakdown per month as well as the total cost per month.

The Mayor: Transport for London has procured face coverings to keep its staff and customers safe. These have been made available to all frontline staff, and were also distributed to customers at targeted bus and Tube stations in June for a period of 10 weeks to help Londoners adjust to what was then a new requirement to wear face coverings on public transport.
As detailed in the accompanying spreadsheet, the average priced paid per mask was £0.68 during Phase 1 and £0.49 during Phase 2. This reflected the market price at the time and the necessity to source through approved and compliant sources.

Cycle infrastructure design LTN 1/20 (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Following your cycle infrastructure design guidance coming into force earlier this year, what steps is TfL taking to ensure all current proposals for highways improvements that have yet to be implemented are LTN 1/20 compliant?

The Mayor: London is at the forefront of cycle infrastructure design guidance, with a fantastic track record of delivering high-quality Cycleways across London.
Transport for London published the London Cycling Design Standards in 2014, and these standards are comparable to LTN 1/20. I remain confident that all Cycleways are being delivered to the highest quality making cycling safer for all Londoners.

Nominee Pass Holders

Shaun Bailey: What is the number of TfL nominee pass holders over the past 5 years, broken down by year, including the current year?

The Mayor: The number of Transport for London employee nominee pass holders from 2016-2020 is detailed in the attached table.
These figures are as of March each year.
16
17
18
19
20
TfL
18,996
18,913
18,818
18,891
18,883

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (1)

Gareth Bacon: Further to MD2689, what is the anticipated expenditure for the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm for 2021/22?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories reflected in our public realm. The range of people immortalised in our statues, memorials and buildings do not capture who we are and what we represent. The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, working with London boroughs and partners across the city, will take forward a programme of work to address this. Recruitment for Commission members is currently underway.
The GLA has not yet agreed and completed its budget setting process for 2021-22 and beyond. Any budget covering the Commission’s work in future years will be set as part of this process, and published to the London Assembly in early 2021.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (2)

Gareth Bacon: MD2689 states that 'delegated authority to the Executive Director, Communities and Skills to approve detailed proposals for £110,000 towards a community fund which will be co-designed with the Commission.' What is this community fund and what will be its purpose?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and our public realm should reflect the true diversity and make-up of our city. The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will engage Londoners to further the discussion into inclusion and representation in the public realm. The Commission will in work in partnership with boroughs and communities to ensure our street names, squares and statues properly reflect our city's achievements.
The purpose of the community fund is to support local people to begin to make a change to their public realm. This could be by supporting new representations in our streets and space, through artworks, murals, plaques or other methods. The programme will be designed by the Commission when it begins to meet.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (3)

Gareth Bacon: When will the members of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm be announced?

The Mayor: Applications for the Commission for Diversity in Public Realm closed on 4 October 2020.
Almost 300 applications were received from a diverse and highly skilled range of people from across London and from a wide range of backgrounds, indicating the passion, knowledge and desire for action in this area. Of the applicants, 61 per cent were female, 69 per cent were from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, 9 per cent have a disability and 18 per cent were LGBTQ+.
34 candidates were interviewed by a panel which included an independent external panel member to ensure a fair process. Final recommendations from the interview panel are expected later this month. The names of the Members will be announced as soon as possible, once they have been formally appointed and references have been checked.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (4)

Gareth Bacon: How many meetings has the Mayor personally had with the co-Chairs of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to discuss the project specifically?

The Mayor: London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but many Londoners do not see themselves or their histories represented in our public realm.That is why, in June, I asked my Deputy Mayors Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries and Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, to co-chair the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. I have met with them separately on numerous occasions, as outlined in MQ4752 and MQ4727.
They have made significant progress in the recruitment of Commission members, and have formed a Partners Board including Historic England, English Heritage, Arts Council England, Black Cultural Archives, Shape Arts and others. They have met with 11 Borough leaders and have delivered a series of public engagement events.
My Deputy Mayors provide me with regular updates on all their work on the Commission.

Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm (5)

Gareth Bacon: Please list all the statues, monuments and plaques on land owned by the Greater London Authority.

The Mayor: Please find the lists below.
Parliament Square Gardens
Sir Robert Peel
statue
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
statue
Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby
statue
Viscount Palmerston
statue
Field Marshall Jan Christian Smuts
statue
Sir Winston Churchill
statue
Nelson Mandela
statue
David Lloyd George
statue
Mahatma Gandhi
statue
Dame Millicent Fawcett
[plinth includes images of 50 other suffragists]
statue
Trafalgar Square
Nelson’s Column, topped with statue of Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson
statue/monument
Bronze bas-reliefs x4, base of column
monument
Bronze lion sculptures x4, base of column
monument
Major-General Sir Henry Havelock
statue
General Sir Charles Napier
statue
King George IV
statue
Admiral Cunningham
bust
Admiral Beatty
bust
Admiral Jellicoe
bust
Fountains x2
with sculptures of Dolphins & Tritons
feature
Imperial Standards of Lengths, historic bronze inlay
feature
4th plinth sculpture, with temporary art installations
feature
Stone drinking fountains x2, engraved text ‘GIVEN BY THE METROPOLITAIN DRINKING FOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION 1960’
feature
Stone inscription, paving centre of Square ‘THESE FOUNTAINS AND THE BUSTS AGAINST THE NORTH WALL OF THE SQUARE WERE ERECTED BY PARLIAMENT TO THE MEMORY OF ADMIRALS OF THE FLEET EARL JELLICOE AND EARL BEATTY TO THE END THAT THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS SERVICES TO THE STATE MIGHT NEVER BE FORGOTTEN’
plaque
Information panel, etched metal, located on NE balcony
feature
Information panel, metal relief, south of Nelson’s Column
feature

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries (3)

Susan Hall: How many times have you met with the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries since lockdown began in March 2020? Please list the number of meetings, the subject of those meetings, and the outcomes of those meetings.

The Mayor: London’s culture, creative industries and night time economy have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Deputy Mayor, Justine Simons OBE, is playing a key role supporting this important part of London’s economy and social fabric, to secure jobs and plan for the safe reopening of cultural venues and businesses.
I am in regular contact with my Deputy Mayor and we have taken part in numerous virtual meetings and in person visits to support the sector. These have included a recent visit to support cultural venues in central London on 3rd December; at the launch of the capital’s largest film studios in Dagenham East; at the exhibition of works by Khadija Saye in Notting Hill; and in October, when I spoke on a panel of global Mayors which my Deputy Mayor chaired as part of the World Cities Culture Forum.

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries (4)

Susan Hall: How many and which boroughs has the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries met with since lockdown began in March 2020?

The Mayor: London’s culture, creative industries and night time economy have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Deputy Mayor, Justine Simons OBE, is playing a key role supporting this important part of London’s economy and social fabric, to secure jobs and plan for the safe reopening of cultural businesses.
Since March 2020, my Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries has met with borough leaders and officers across London, including with the Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council on the launch of Eastbrook Studios; a meeting of 11 borough leaders regarding the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm; and in her role on the City of London’s Culture and Commerce Task Force. My Culture Unit has held five virtual meetings supporting culture officers across London, with attendance from thirty boroughs.
Through this, my Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries has supported representatives from almost all London boroughs since March 2020.

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries (2)

Susan Hall: What specific work has the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries done to date in relation to London's recovery from COVID-19?

The Mayor: London’s culture and creative industries and night time economy have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Deputy Mayor is supporting this important part of London’s economy and social fabric, to secure jobs and plan for the reopening of cultural and creative businesses.
My Deputy Mayor has expanded my Culture at Risk Office; launched my £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund and new Community Spaces at Risk Fund; worked with industry to gather intelligence on the issues faced and support needed; lobbied government on freelancers and support for cultural organisations; commissioned research on the impact of COVID-19; and ensured culture is represented in London’s recovery missions.
She’s supported investment in jobs and growth, including the launch of London’s biggest film studios in Dagenham; supporting Film London to get £1bn worth of filming back in production; launching a £1.3m skills programme in three Creative Enterprise Zones; and supporting East Bank to carry on building.

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries (5)

Susan Hall: What specific actions did you task the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries with to contribute to London’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic? a) How many actions has she achieved, b) How many actions remain outstanding, and c) What Key Performance Indicators did you ask her to perform against?

The Mayor: London’s culture, creative industries and night time economy have been catastrophically impacted by COVID-19. My Deputy Mayor, Justine Simons OBE, is supporting this important part of London’s economy and social fabric, to secure jobs and plan for the reopening of cultural and creative businesses.
My Deputy Mayor has expanded my Culture at Risk Office; launched my £2.3m Culture at Risk Business Support Fund and new Community Spaces at Risk Fund; worked with industry to gather intelligence on the issues faced and support needed; lobbied government on freelancers and support for cultural organisations; commissioned research on the impact of COVID-19; and ensured culture is represented in London’s recovery missions.
She’s supported investment in jobs and growth, including the launch of London’s biggest film studios in Dagenham; supporting Film London to get £1bn worth of filming back in production; launching a £1.3m skills programme in three Creative Enterprise Zones; and supporting East Bank to carry on building.

Rerouting the 414 & social distancing on No.6

Murad Qureshi: Is stopping the No.414 bus service from Marble Arch to Maida Vale advisable when this would result in the doubling up of passengers on the No.6 bus service during the COVID-19 era (and beyond), making it difficult to maintain social distancing which will have an adverse health impact?

The Mayor: TfL is reviewing the feedback from the recent public consultation on these proposals and the results will be published in early 2021. No decision has yet been taken. Any changes would not take place until later in 2021.
The rationale for the change is that the section of route is also covered by route 6, which runs 8 buses per hour and provides sufficient capacity. Therefore, resources could be released to meet customer requirements elsewhere.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Caroline Russell: In your Transport Strategy you identify a target for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to be built to capture an additional surface area of 50,000 sqm per annum. What has been your progress on this, by year, since you were elected in 2016?

The Mayor: My Transport Strategy set out a requirement for an additional 50,000 sqm of catchment to drain into SuDS features per year on highways (both borough and Transport for London (TfL)). Following publication of my Transport Strategy, we asked boroughs to report on SuDS delivery in the financial year 2019/20 and found that 13 boroughs implemented SUDs schemes delivering at least 28,129 sqm of catchment.This was the first year TfL requested this information.
TfL has also delivered SuDS schemes within its own schemes. For example,the extensive improvements at Highbury Corner include 80sqm of new paved areas which drain into specially designed tree pits. TfL is also developing designs for more SuDS, including at Old Street, which will include permeable paving, rain gardens and a green roof on the station entrance. TfL aims to complete the work in autumn 2022.
Unfortunately, the impacts of the COVID pandemic have made delivering my Transport Strategy target more difficult. TfL has had to pause LIP funding for boroughs and is instead focussing very limited resources on keeping public transport running and funding emergency Streetspace improvements to enable social distancing and encourage active travel. TfL will, however, continue to explore opportunities for SuDS as permanent streetscape improvements are delivered in the future and has issued guidance to boroughs on how to consider SuDS and other green infrastructure in their own Streetspace plans.

Changes to borough cycle funding (2)

Caroline Russell: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/2621. Now that you have a funding package from the Government, will you confirm planned investment in cycling for each borough and programme (Liveable Neighbourhoods, Mini-Hollands, Borough Cycling, junctions etc.), for 2020-21, and 2021-22, and the amount of investment provided to date?

The Mayor: In the first half of financial year 2020-21 the majority of borough funding was allocated via the (£45m) London Streetspace programme.
Following recent Government negotiations, Transport for London (TfL) received £75m for the second half of financial year 2020-21 for ‘Active Travel’. This covers all Healthy Streets activity, including funding for boroughs. TfL has so far announced £25m this will be allocated as LIP funding, and will write to boroughs about non-LIP funding allocations as soon as possible.
It has also been confirmed that a further £20m from the Active Travel Fund (formerly Emergency Active Travel Fund) will be available to TfL, almost all of which will be going to fund more London Streetspace projects in the boroughs. TfL will continue to work closely with boroughs to maximise delivery . TfL and boroughs will need to consider the new requirements from DfT on Active Travel Fund projects and will be working with boroughs to review the deliverability of the programme.
For 2021-22 TfL has not yet secured funding from Government. Once a funding package is agreed this will be announced to boroughs.

Location of school streets

Caroline Russell: When will you publish the location of all current and planned School Street programmes in London? If this data is available now, please provide it in your answer to this question.

The Mayor: 322 School Streets have been delivered by boroughs so far, using TfL funding under the Streetspace for London programme, benefitting 317 schools. Note that a few boroughs have delivered multiple schemes benefitting a single school, for example where more than one road closure has benefitted a single school, or else where emergency measures have been delivered and then followed up with a more permanent scheme in response to resident feedback. These figures do not include schemes funded solely by boroughs, or schemes delivered prior to the creation of the Streetspace programme.A full list of School Streets delivered (correct to 30 October 2020) is available on the TfL website at https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/general/f23c0f13/, and this will be updated regularly as delivery continues.
At the time of writing a further 66 School Street schemes are due to be delivered in the coming weeks, though the final number will not be confirmed until boroughs have submitted their funding claims for the current financial year.

Recyling (2)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm whether or not recycling levels have dropped this year?

The Mayor: Annual recycling rates for Local Authorities are published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), usually in November or December of each year. The publication of recycling rates for 2019/20 has been delayed until January or February 2021, due to Covid-related impacts on data reporting and quality assurance within local authorities and DEFRA.

Acoustic Vehicle Alert System

Andrew Boff: Further to your answer to my question 2020/0714, please can you give an update on TfL’s Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System on buses and give details of the consultation process?

The Mayor: There are currently more than 200 buses in the fleet with the new Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) and this total will grow by a further 176 vehicles into the first half of 2021. Prior to its development, six national accessibility groups based in London, were invited to workshops to give their views and feedback. The current signature sound is the result of that process.
In response to a direct request from these accessibility groups, Transport for London (TfL) has licensed the bus AVAS sound for use on buses outside of London and is encouraging its uptake by transport authorities and bus operators elsewhere in the UK. This would promote a single bus signature sound for the UK. Several transport authorities and bus operators in the West Midlands and Scotland have licenced or are in the process of licencing the sound on more than 75 buses so far.
TfL is also seeking to further enhance the effectiveness of AVAS’s safety benefits by optimising the volume level of this signature sound in response to background noise. In February 2021, TfL will conduct more engagement with Londoners including accessibility groups through an online survey. Optimising AVAS is a further example of how TfL is endeavouring to exceed the international regulatory minimum requirements for AVAS.

Places of Worship (3)

Shaun Bailey: How many planning permissions for places of worship were rejected in the 2019/20 year across London?

The Mayor: We do not currently hold this information in a format that would enable this question to be answered (for example we cannot interrogate the data by use). The determining authority for the vast majority of these applications will be the boroughs.
To address the issue of accessible data in relation to enquiries such as this, the Planning London Datahub was launched on the 18th November 2020 which will enable us to access this data more easily in the future.

GLA Press Officers

Shaun Bailey: How many press officers did the GLA employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this?

The Mayor: In 2019/20 the GLA employed 25 press officers, at a total cost of £1,416,669. 15 of these were in the Mayor’s Press Office within External Relations and 10 in the Assembly Secretariat.
The cost figure is approximate and is based on the mid-point salary grades of the posts and year-end financial reports, as some posts were not filled for the whole year.

Air Quality Audits (1)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm whether or not applications were received from organisations from Bromley, Enfield and Havering for the Grow Back Greener Fund?

The Mayor: The Grow Back Greener Fund supports projects to improve and create green space, focusing on neighbourhoods with poor green space provision and high levels of deprivation. The fund received five applications for projects in Enfield, and three applications for projects in Havering. Unfortunately, these applications were unsuccessful. No applications were received from projects based in Bromley.
The Fund was heavily oversubscribed, with a total funding request over seven times greater than the funding available. All applications were subject to a formal assessment process that prioritised projects most closely aligned with the aims of the fund.
Projects in these boroughs have received funding through other programmes as part of my Greener City Fund this year, including for greening Valley Primary School in Bromley, and major woodland creation projects in Enfield and Havering.

School Bus Routes (5)

Alison Moore: Can you confirm that children 11-15 receive a 50% discount on the adult fare when using TfL services without a ZIP card? Will a similar discount apply if free travel for under 18s is suspended?

The Mayor: On 31 October 2020, the Department for Transport agreed a second extraordinary funding and financing package for Transport for London for the period to March 31 2021. It replaces the agreement signed in May, and no longer requires Transport for London to suspend free travel for under 18s.
This means that 11-15 year olds with a 11-15 Zip Oyster card can travel free at all times on buses and trams. On Tube, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail services, their 11-15 Zip card means they pay child rate pay as you go fares. If they don’t have a Zip card, they can buy child rate paper tickets.

Road Space Changes

Tony Devenish: I was recently contacted by a constituent who was stuck for 40 minutes on the Euston Road eastbound due to the normal three-lane carriage way being restricted to a single lane for private motor vehicles. He added that there was a queue from the underpass by Tottenham Court Road all the way to King’s Cross station. What will it take for you to recognise that far too many of your changes to road space are having a negative impact on London?

The Mayor: In July 2020 Transport for London (TfL) made temporary changes to Euston Road as part of their Streetspace for London programme. Streetspace for London has seen over 90 kilometres of new or upgraded cycle infrastructure delivered during the coronavirus pandemic and 22,500sqm of space re-allocated to pedestrians, allowing people to walk and cycle safely while social distancing.
Protected cycle lanes play a vital role in reducing danger to vulnerable road users and enabling more people to cycle. However, TfL’s review of the Euston Road scheme found that the impact of the westbound cycle lane on buses and general traffic was outweighing the improvements for cycling. Bus journeys times have increased, affecting over 12,000 passengers who use Euston Road during the day, and general traffic can take almost twice as long to travel westbound at certain times. Therefore, having investigated a number of options, TfL will modify the Euston Road scheme by removing the westbound cycle lane and floating bus stops. TfL will continue to monitor the eastbound lane, which remains in place, and also work with Camden Council to introduce better signage and directions to nearby available alternative westbound cycle routes.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, it was important to run a reliable public transport service to encourage people to use buses, reducing unnecessary car journeys, improving air quality and increasing active travel. This objective is even more important during the pandemic, in order to avoid a car-based recovery which would have negative impacts for both public health and the economy.

GLA Pay Rises

Shaun Bailey: What was the percentage in pay rises received by GLA staff for each year from 2015/16 including the current year?

The Mayor: The pay awards for GLA staff from 2015/16 to the current year were:
Year
GLA Staff
2014/15 & 2015/16
2.2% grades 1 to 15 and Executive Directors
(15-month award covering 1 January 2015 to
31 March 2016)
2016/17
2.0% grades 1 to 5
			1.5% grades 6 to 8
			1.0% grades 9 to 15 and Executive Directors
2017/18
3.0% grades 1 to 5
			2.0% grades 6 to 10
			1.0% grades 11 and above
2018/ 19
3.0% grades 1 to 6
2.0% grades 7 to 15 and Executive Directors
2019/20
2.5% grades 1 to 6
2.0% grades 7 to 15 and Executive Directors
2020/21
2.0% grades 1 to 7

GLA Apprenticeships

Shaun Bailey: How many apprenticeships has the GLA funded since May 2016, what is the yearly breakdown?

The Mayor: Since May 2016 there have been 94 apprenticeships start at the GLA.
The yearly breakdown by financial year is:
April 2016 to March 2017
11
April 2017 to March 2018
27
April 2018 to March 2019
28
April 2019 to March 2020
28
Total
94
Please note that the figures include a small number of apprentices appointed to the GLA apprenticeship scheme who were placed in OPDC and MOPAC.

Nominee passes

Shaun Bailey: How many journeys were undertaken by those who hold a nominee pass in the 2019/20 year and can you provide a breakdown of which zones these journeys were undertaken in?

The Mayor: The attached table shows the weekly average number of journeys undertaken by those who hold a Transport for London (TfL) employee nominee pass in the 2019/20 year.
The table details journeys up until March 2020. TfL are unable to provide the zones in which these journeys were undertaken in.
Nominee type

Weekly average: Bus journeys
Rail journeys
TfL nominee
3.9
3.8

London Curfew

Peter Whittle: On 20 September, LBC reported: ‘London mayor Sadiq Khan is said to be pressing for a 10pm curfew for pubs and work-from-home orders in the capital amid rising coronavirus cases.’ ‘The mayor is now urging ministers to extend the latest regional curbs – including ordering bars and restaurants to close at 10pm – to cover the capital as well, despite pleas from business leaders that such a move would be “devastating”.’1However, on 7 October you tweeted: ‘We need a rapid review of the 10pm curfew. It is clearly hitting hospitality businesses hard, and it’s contributing to dangerous overcrowding on our streets. The Government must review this decision.’ I would be most grateful if you could explain how you managed to pivot from the first position to the second in such a short space of time.

1https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13029971/priti-patel-britain-fbi-russian-chinese-spies/#comments

The Mayor: We need effective measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. That is why I have called on the Government to take fast, early action to protect Londoners and save lives.
Following the introduction of the curfew, and the scenes we saw of gatherings on the streets outside pubs and bars across the UK, it was clear the curfew was not an effective tool in reducing transmission of the virus, and is yet another burden on hospitality businesses which are already struggling to make enough to survive.
The government has been unable to provide any evidence that the curfew is effective in preventing the spread of the virus, and that is why I have called for it to be abandoned. It is disappointing that the government has merely extended the curfew to 11pm rather than scrapping it altogether.

Flood defences and London

Leonie Cooper: In ‘The ten point plan for a green industrial revolution’ the Government sets out plans to invest £5.2billion into a six year plan to improve flood defences. How much of this funding will be available to protect areas at risk of flooding in London?

The Mayor: Government’s forthcoming flood risk management programme is twice the size of the last allocation and is available to all regions in England. The funding is distributed based on the level of flood risk which drives the level of investment in each region. In the next four years the Thames regional flood and coastal committee area, within which London and the Thames Valley sit, will receive £228m. The average across all flood and coastal committee regions is £196m. A region makes bids for funding based on a pipeline of projects so a region can only access as much as it bids for within the funding rules.
However, historically little government funding has been allocated for managing surface water flooding, despite this being the main flood risk to London for which there is limited flood protection (see MQ2020/4294).
To unlock funding for surface water schemes in future, GLA officers are working with the Environment Agency and other stakeholders to quantify the benefits of multiple, smaller, widespread sustainable drainage measures across London to manage flood risk. These measures also bring the benefit of creating new green infrastructure bringing more nature to London. Officials are also exploring how the Government’s new £200m resilience and innovation fund can support projects to reducing surface water flood risk in London, including several catchment based approaches to surface water management and a pan-London early flood warning system proposal
London is currently well protected from tidal flood risk, but without action the standard of protection will decrease as the climate changes. We are supporting the Environment Agency’s update of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan and 10-year review. This review includes maintenance and enhanced tidal walls and embankments as well as assessing when a new Thames Barrier will be needed. Funding for shorter term actions in the plan will come from this coming funding cycle.

Recycling (1)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm whether or not every London Council is delivering a separate kerbside food waste collection service?

The Mayor: My London Environment Strategy (LES) requires all London boroughs to provide a separate weekly food waste collection to properties with kerbside recycling collections.
22 boroughs already offer separate kerbside food waste collections. Two boroughs (Greenwich and Waltham Forest) collect food and garden waste together. Nine boroughs do not currently offer a food waste collection service: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Wandsworthand Westminster.
My officers have worked with the eleven boroughs that do not provide a fully separate kerbside food waste collection to set out in their Reduction and Recycling Plans (RRPs) a commitment of how and when they will do this. Greenwich and Waltham Forest have included plans to move to separate food waste collections by 2023. Barnet have committed to reintroducing a food waste service from April 2022. Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham RRPs were approved on condition of a commitment and clear road map of rollout following trials, ideally by 2022 and all three boroughs have now begun to pilot food waste recycling services for the first time. Due to contractual restraints Wandsworth cannot introduce a food waste service before 2024 but have said that they have a trial planned provisionally starting in January 2021 and my officers have asked for an update on this. Boroughs are due to provide me with their first updates to RRPs in January which will include progress against the commitments they have made.
The remaining boroughs are the constituent authorities of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA). There are contractual and technological constraints within ELWA’s existing disposal contract which mean the potential for significant service change to waste and recycling services is severely limited. I am aware of numerous contract reviews at national and local level that have found little to no latitude within the contract. I am working with these boroughs to identify what other improvements can be made.
Please see also Mayor's Question 2020/3411.

Bus Driver Diversity & Inclusion Training

Andrew Boff: Further to your answer to my question 2020/0714, how many of London’s 25,000 bus drivers have received Diversity & Inclusion training and when do you expect all drivers to have completed this training?

The Mayor: All London bus drivers receive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) training, designed by Transport for London (TfL), as part of their initial training. The subject has also been addressed within annual Certificate of Professional Competence training like “All Aboard” and “Hello London”.
TfL recognises, however, that some drivers may have completed D&I-specific training some time ago, and that new training will ensure all drivers and support staff receive the latest best practice, knowledge, skills and behaviours.
TfL’s overall training programme was paused twice during lockdown to protect staff and bring in coronavirus-safe methods. The current programme envisages a bespoke D&I course being developed for and attended by all fleet drivers by the end of 2023.

London Power (3)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor provide how much London Power's income has been since its launch?

The Mayor: London Power will publish an annual report in Q1 2021-22 to evaluate the impact of the company in the first full financial year of operation. This will provide an evaluation of the company’s financial and operational performance over the previous year, where this data is not considered commercially sensitive.

London Power (2)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor explain what he is doing to increase the number of households signing up to London Power as their energy provider?

The Mayor: I launched London Power to provide a fair, affordable and green energy supply option for Londoners. We are communicating the benefits to Londoners. Marketing for London Power was paused in March as the COVID-19 pandemic hit but was resumed this autumn. My officers are also engaging with London boroughs to gain their support in further promoting London Power to their residents.

London Power (1)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor explain why after ten months on from the launch of London Power, up to the end of September 2020, only 3,658 households had signed-up to London Power as their energy provider?

The Mayor: As per my answer to MQ 2020/ 2854, this year has been challenging for businesses across the country, particularly those that are just starting out. Marketing for London Power was paused in March as the COVID-19 pandemic hit but was resumed this autumn. I plan to continue to grow London Power in order that more Londoners will benefit from affordable, green energy.

Planning Application for Stag Brewery, Mortlake

Tony Arbour: In relation to the Planning Application for the Stag Brewery, Mortlake (GLA references: 4172, 4172A, 4172B), can the Mayor explain why the GLA Planning Directorate held 23 meetings between May and October 2020 with the applicant or their representatives for this development, but are unable to provide figures for the number of meetings which were held between GLA Planning and local groups representing the interests of residents? Were any meetings at all held between GLA Planning and residents’ groups between May and October 2020? Will GLA Planning now be consulting with local residents’ groups, given that the November date of the public Representation Hearing has been delayed?

The Mayor: The applications were called in on 4 May 2020 to subject them to further scrutiny. GLA officers have met with the applicants’ representatives to discuss various technical elements of the development. Dialogue between the applicant (and their technical representatives) and the LPA during an assessment is routine and reflected in the requirements of the NPPF, which requires LPAs to “work proactively with applicants to secure developments that will improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area”.
No direct meetings were held with local residents’ groups in this period. Residents and third parties provide comments and opinions on development proposals to planning authorities through the statutory consultation process, which occurred between 19 August - 27 September and 1 - 31 October. More recently, since postponement of the hearing date, GLA officers have met with two community groups. Further public consultation – which will include local residents - will occur prior to a rescheduled hearing.

Green Jobs

Tony Arbour: In your opening remarks at MQT on 19th November you intimated that London has more people employed in Green jobs than construction. Please provide the detail to support this claim.

The Mayor: The latest interim assessment of London’s low carbon and environmental goods and services sector shows the sector employed 317,000 in 2019/20, see the link.
The assessment of the low carbon and environment goods and services sector versus the construction sector is from the London Low Carbon Market Snapshot 2019 published in June last year, see the link.
The comparison is set out in Table 3 of Appendix 6 and shows that in 2016/17 the low carbon and environment goods and services sector employed 224,659 people compared with 199,038 in the construction sector in 2016/17.

London Plan Annual Monitoring Report

Murad Qureshi: When will you publish the sixteenth London Plan Annual Monitoring Report?

The Mayor: I will be publishing the London Plan Annual Monitoring Report early in the new year.

Taxi Air Quality

Alison Moore: In order to achieve air quality compliance by 2025, London must reduce taxi emissions by 65 per cent, based on 2013 levels. As a result, you are reducing Taxi Age limits from 15 years as of 1st November 2019 to 12 years from 1st November 2022. What would happen to London’s air quality if this decision were reversed?

The Mayor: I have taken decisive action to tackle London’s air quality crisis and this involves cleaning up all the vehicles on London’s roads. A reduction in emissions from taxis is a significant part of achieving legal pollution limits in combination with other policies to reduce emissions including the operation of Ultra Low Emission Zone and tightening of heavy vehicle Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards. Taxis are exempt from these schemes and the Congestion Charge, their emissions are instead controlled by vehicle licensing requirements, including age limits.
I welcome the efforts the taxi trade has already taken to reduce its emissions. Given emerging evidence of the association between air pollution and the most severe effects of coronavirus, it is essential we continue to take action to protect Londoners’ health. We must achieve these legal standards as quickly as possible. To achieve legal compliance we need to reduce NOx emissions from London taxis by 65 per cent by 2025 compared to 2013 levels.
The phased approach to diesel taxi age limits, alongside support for delicensing and uptake of ZEC taxis, means we are back on track to meet the 2025 legal requirement. Without tighter age limits, diesel taxis would have continued to dominate the taxi fleet and the pollution profile of road transport emissions in central London.
Taxis were forecast to contribute around 30 per cent of central London road traffic NOx in 2025 without the introduction of taxi age limits. By introducing taxi age limits, taxis are forecast to contribute around a third less road traffic NOx in 2025. The equivalent of 20 per cent of central London road traffic NOx in 2025. Reducing diesel taxi age limits is the most effective way to ensure we deliver the necessary cleaning of the fleet while taking a measured and supportive approach by phasing over a three-year period.

Edgware Road Housing Zone update

Murad Qureshi: How much of the indicative GLA funding allocation; total number of homes; total number of affordable homes and total number of construction jobs have been delivered so far in the Edgware Road Housing Zone?

The Mayor: In February 2017, £2million recoverable grant was allocated to Westminster for infrastructure works (utility diversions) required to unlock two key sites and provide a total of 158 new homes for Londoners.
Lisson Arches will provide 44 sheltered homes for Affordable Rent and 14 homes for private sale with restricted leases for over-55s. The enabling works commenced in July 2020 and are nearing completion which should enable construction of the new homes to start as expected early in the New Year and complete by March 2023.
Lisson Grove will provide 100 homes including 35 affordable homes (31 Intermediate and 4 Social Rent) and 65 for private sale. This scheme is now expected to start in December 2025.
The GLA does not monitor the number of construction jobs created by interventions funded in Housing Zones.

Hospital Transport

Joanne McCartney: London’s bus red routes are trialling 24 hour operation. Has this affected patient transport ambulances/vehicles, and has this resulted in patients missing hospital appointments due to longer journey times?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is continuing to monitor and develop the trial of 24 hour bus lanes, including identifying any negative impacts, and is responding to issues should they occur. To date TfL is not aware of any impacts to patient transport as a direct result of the trial. This monitoring and evaluation will continue throughout the course of the trial. Any impacted party can submit feedback to TfL via the website https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/all-day-bus-lanes/

10pm curfew (2)

Leonie Cooper: Will the 11pm curfew help London’s hospitality sector?

The Mayor: No. It was disappointing that rather than scrapping the ineffective and counterproductive curfew entirely, the Government only extended it to 11pm.
Hospitality businesses across the capital have spent considerable sums making their venues COVID secure. While the extra hour will allow customers more time to finish meals and drinks, there will be minimal financial benefit from the extended curfew to pubs, restaurants and venues, as they will still have to stop serving customers at 10pm.
The revised curfew continues to disproportionately affect London’s LGBTQ+ venues. 40% of their normal weekend trading hours are after 10pm – exactly the time they have to stop serving.
The curfew is a blow to London’s vital hospitality businesses which support many jobs and who have done so much to help stop the spread of the virus. They have endured a very difficult year. The sector will need a comprehensive package of long-term support to ensure business can recover including an immediate extension to the business rates relief for sectors and locations most impacted.

Homeless Young People (4)

Murad Qureshi: What progress has been made to distribute cold weather funding to local authorities this winter, and will it be enough to meet demand?

The Mayor: MHCLG rather than the GLA distributes cold weather funding to local authorities. With COVID restrictions on communal sleeping, the amount of winter night shelter provision available is far lower than usual. That is why I am lobbying the Government to meet the estimated £24m funding gap to ensure that there is COVID-safe accommodation for all rough sleepers this winter. As usual, this winter the GLA is triggering and co-ordinating Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) and provides over-flow accommodation when borough provision is full.

Permitted development rights

Andrew Boff: What work have you done with local authorities regarding the conversion of commercial space under permitted development rights?

The Mayor: I continue to work with all of London’s local planning authorities to monitor conversions of commercial space to residential use under permitted development rights through the London Development Database.
I supported the CAZ boroughs by publishing strategic evidence to inform the introduction of Article 4 Directions to remove office to residential permitted development rights. This helped to safeguard central London’s nationally significant office locations.
In my London Plan I also encourage boroughs to introduce Article 4 Directions to safeguard strategic office capacity beyond central London and industrial and logistics capacity across the capital where appropriate. I have highlighted concerns about the implications of the Government’s proposals on PDR and continue to make the case that permitted development rights should be devolved to London government. This would ensure that appropriate flexibility can be provided – but in ways that deliver Good Growth for the capital and ensure higher quality development.

London City Airport

Andrew Boff: Will you resist the proposed increase in flghts from London City Airport?

The Mayor: I note that, on 4 December, London City Airport published its final Master Plan, a non-statutory statement of its future plans. I raised a number of significant concerns in response to its consultation on its draft Master Plan last year (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/mayoral-letter-london-city-masterplan-consultation-accessible.pdf).
On the key question of increased flights – particularly at times of day currently witnessing few if any flights – the final Master Plan does not represent a fundamental change of position from the draft, albeit the likely timescales have inevitably been pushed back as a result of the collapse in aviation demand this year.
Should London City Airport come forward with a planning application for development in the future – and one that is referable to me – I will scrutinise the proposals, giving very careful consideration to their environmental impacts.

Adult Education Budget (2)

Jennette Arnold: How are you encouraging enrolment of BAME Londoners in your skills programmes?

The Mayor: Currently, more than half (56%) of all Adult Education Budget (AEB) London learners are from a BAME background. Given that people from BAME communities are more likely to experience child poverty, deprivation and unemployment, I want to ensure the AEB actively supports them to access new education and training opportunities.
To do this, I am investing £25m of AEB funding available from next academic year to increase the funding available deliver all qualifications up to and including level 2 to help learnerslacking basic skills to progress. I am also launching a £10m grant award fundto help adult Londoners gain relevant skills to move into good work in London’s key sectors.
This is alongside changes I have already made this academic year, including fully funding year-long level 3 qualifications for unemployed Londoners and those in low pay, and making budgets more flexible to allow AEB providers to run more targeted pre-employment and job-focused training to support those hit hardest by the pandemic. I will also shortly launch a marketing campaign focused on driving up AEB enrolments among those groups most affected by the pandemic.

Adult Education Budget

Jennette Arnold: How are you encouraging enrolment of Londoners with SEND needs in your skills programmes?

The Mayor: Londoners with SEND have beendisproportionally affected by COVID-19and continue to be a priority group for skills interventions.
To encourage enrolments, I am launching a campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of learning and training, targeting Londoners most affected by the pandemic, including SEND learners. I am also launching a peer researchproject focused on improving access to AEB for underrepresented groups including disabled Londoners.
My£6.5m ESF Programme for16-24-yearolds with SENDwilltarget young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; physically disabled Londoners and/or those with long-term health needs; and social,emotionaland mental health(SEMH)needs to achieve sustained education, training or employmentresults.
Earlier this year, I launched the Covid-19 Response Fund to help Londoners most affected get support with digital skills, including equipment to support accessibility and prevent digital exclusion. The LEAN network has now also expanding its careers support to help students with SEND in schoolswith their skills and career pathways.

Accelerating the removal of ACM cladding

Andrew Dismore: What action is your Building Safety Team taking to accelerate progress in removing dangerous cladding from all buildings over 18 metres in London?

The Mayor: The GLA is a delivery partner for three programmes that accelerate the remediation of unsafe buildings over 18 metres in London. In particular, my team has worked closely with central Government and Homes England (delivery partner for buildings outside of London) to streamline the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund and the Building Safety Fund such that applications can be progressed at pace. For example, two GLA officers recently provided direct support to MHCLG to help accelerate the Building Safety Fund registration process.

School attendance

Jennette Arnold: There has been a “collapse” in secondary school attendance this term. What can you do as Mayor to help schools and ensure young people in London are attending?

The Mayor: It is understandable that young people, parents and carers might be feeling anxious about attending and sending young people to school at this time. I welcome the announcement from the Secretary of State for Education on 15 December that mass weekly testing will be introduced in January for all secondary schools, which will give reassurance to parents that more is being done to ensure schools are COVID safe. It is essential that the Government provides the capital’s schools and colleges with the resources to quickly mobilise and roll out testing when children return after the Christmas holiday.
My teams continue to provide guidance and the latest coronavirus updates for London. These are available at https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus. This includes government guidance for young people, parents and carers on school attendance, such as information on travelling to school, use of face coverings, vaccinations and advice for looking after mental health.
Communications to young Londoners has formed a core part of our public health guidance communications strategy and we have been undertaking targeted communication through social media such as Snapchat and Instagram to inform young Londoners about the Government’s guidance and to encourage them to comply with it.

Taxi Age Limit Reduction

Keith Prince: From 1st November 2020 the phased taxi age limit reduction fully commences, with the maximum operating age becoming 14 years and reducing by a year for the next two years so that by November 2022 it will be 12 years.

The reason for the reduction stems from a historic promise of 9000 ZEC taxis replacing 9000 diesel vehicles by 2020, giving an approximate 45% reduction in NOx from 2013 levels. You have stated there’s a need for a 65% reduction by 2025. As you are aware, the figure of 9000 ZEC taxis has not been achieved.

However there has been a significant but unexpected take up of the taxi delicensing scheme. The current taxi fleet stands at 16,902 including 3652 ZECs, leaving a figure of 13,250 diesel vehicles. This means there has been a 41% fall in diesel taxis from the 2013 figure

Given this, and given the huge difficulties for the taxi trade in London, will you commit to cancelling the reduction to 13 and then 12 years and leaving a maximum operating age of 14 years in place?

The Mayor: I recognise the difficulties being experienced by taxi drivers, alongside many other professions across London, as a result of the pandemic. I know TfL is in regular contact with the taxi and private hire industries to understand the issues they are facing and, where possible, support them through these unprecedented times. I know thetrade stakeholders have responded positively to thisapproach
I welcome the efforts the taxi trade has already taken to reduce its emissions. Given emerging evidence of the association between air pollution and the most severe effects of Covid-19, it is essential we take action to protect Londoners’ health and achieve these legal standards as quickly as possible., Therefore we must reduce NOx emissions from taxis by 65 per cent by 2025 compared to 2013 levels.
The phased approach to taxi age limits ensures we are back on track to meet the 2025 legal requirement. The taxi delicensing scheme has been very successful in reducing the number of older, polluting vehicles in the fleet with over £30 million paid out. TfL’s modelling for taxi age limits took account of emissions reductions expected from delicensing. I recognise that the number of diesel taxis registered has reduced in recent months, however we still have to achieve and sustain emissions reductions to fight London’s air quality crisis.
It is important to balance temporary COVID-19 related reductions in emissions, which can be attributed to lower taxi usage, with lower uptake of ZEC taxis than expected (which has also been impacted by COVID-19), and ensure that when taxi use in London recovers it does so in a way that continues to reduce its impacts on emissions and poor air quality.

Black curriculum

Jennette Arnold: The recent report by the Black Curriculum says that the national curriculum ‘systematically omits' black British history. Given your work on the Black Curriculum, have you had conversations with the Education Secretary about this? If you haven’t, will you write to him?

The Mayor: Schools must be fully inclusive of all students. This means reflecting the diverse identities, histories and cultures of all young people so that each has an equal sense of belonging in the classroom. I wrote to the Education Secretary on 2 October about this important topic - please see Mayor’s Question 2020/3862. My recent response to the Government’s Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities also included a call for a more inclusive national curriculum that reflects Black British history.

Transport Workers and Covid-19 (2)

Keith Prince: In your response to Question 2020/2533, how can you reconcile your refusal to identify the specific Depots where Bus Drivers who died from Covid-19 were employed "due to data protection and out of respect for the privacy of the families of the deceased” with TfL’s regularly publishing pre-inquest victim-blaming narratives in publications found on its Bus Safety Data Page?

The Mayor: Further to my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/3655, I acknowledge your feedback regarding the insensitivity of the wording in the recent bus safety data release and Transport for London (TfL) will act to address this. However, TfL does not publish information that contravenes its data protection obligations which is the reason a line-by-line account of each bus driver death will not be provided.

Places of Worship (1)

Shaun Bailey: What was the total number of planning permissions submitted in the 2019/20 year for places of worship?

The Mayor: We do not currently hold this information in a format that would enable this question to be answered (for example we cannot interrogate the data by use). The determining authority for the vast majority of these applications will be the boroughs.
To address the issue of accessible data in relation to enquiries such as this, the Planning London Datahub was launched on the 18th November 2020 which will enable us to access this data more easily in the future

London Pollution Helpdesk

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm how many schools have called the London Pollution Helpdesk so far?

The Mayor: By introducing bold measures to tackle pollution in London, I have successfully reduced the number of state schools in areas with illegal levels of pollution from 455 in 2016 to 14 in 2019. However, I am determined to do more to ensure that the air quality around all schools in the city is within legal pollution limits. This is why I will be launching the London Schools Pollution Helpdesk early next year.
The Helpdesk will support schools across London to deliver air quality audits, prioritising and proactively approaching the remaining schools in areas still exceeding or nearly exceeding legal pollution levels. It will also support schools to implement audit recommendations, which will help reduce pollution and children’s exposure to it.
The Helpdesk will build on my successful School and Nursery Air Quality Audits Programme, which has delivered audits at 50 schools and 20 nurseries across London’s most polluted areas and offered funding support to facilitate the implementation of audit recommendations such as the introduction of School Streets, active travel and engine idling campaigns, and the addition of green infrastructure like green screens.
However, whilst officers are finalising preparations and the Helpdesk has been launched, schools will not be able to call on its services.

Impact of COVID-19 on workers (2)

Susan Hall: Has the Deputy Mayor for Business undertaken any specific work on the impact of COVID-19 on freelancers and gig economy workers in London?

The Mayor: Freelancers and gig economy workers cut across the responsibilities of my Deputy Mayor for Business, Culture & the Creative Industries, and Night Czar, who have all played important roles in our pandemic response.
The Deputy Mayor for Business feeds back regularly from his meetings with the business community. He chairs the BusinessandEconomic Impacts sub-group of the London Strategic Coordination Group. I and my deputy Mayors have called on government to close eligibility gaps in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and ensure that gig economy workers have adequate sick pay protection if they need to self-isolate.
The Culture Unit hosted a roundtable with freelancers in March to identify their immediate needs and has continued to lobby central government on their behalf. The GLA is funding researchfrom Centre for London on the future of self-employment in London, particularly sectors where freelancer and gig economy work ismost prevalent.

Air Quality Audits (2)

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm whether or not funding awarded for air quality measures as a result of the first round of air quality audits had reduced pollution around schools?

The Mayor: I have implemented a wide range of bold measures that have improved air quality across the capital. The Ultra Low Emission Zone, for example, has effectively addressed toxic emissions at source thereby helping to reduce the number of state schools located in areas with illegal levels of pollution by 97 per cent.
The audits themselves have recommended a variety of measures to be implemented by the schools, boroughs or other organisations, some of which would directly address emissions and others which would reduce exposure to pollution or raise awareness.
I offered grant funding of £10,000 to each of the participating schools to kick-start the implementation of their recommendations, which many boroughs matched, and further ringfenced funding from the Greener City Fund to support schools in areas exceeding legal pollution limits to deliver greening measures which would help tackle air pollution.
Our initial estimate is the average reduction of nitrogen dioxide pollution at audited schools of around 22 per cent between 2016 and 2019. An overall evaluation of the audit programme will take place once both the school and nursery programmes are complete in 2021.

North London District Energy Network

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor confirm in detail what the £1.2million awarded to the North London District Energy Network will specifically deliver?

The Mayor: This project supports the development of a strategic heat network, decarbonising heat in North London. It will allow the “super” sizing of the heat main from the future Edmonton Energy Recovery Facility so that the heat network is able to capture at least 20MW of waste heat available from the future Edmonton Energy Recovery Facility for supplying into the London boroughs of Haringey and Hackney, for more details see MD2700. Without this funding the proposed sizing of the heat main would only have provided a maximum of 10MW of waste heat for use in a heat network supplying homes in Haringey and Hackney. To upgrade the capacity of the heat network in the future so that it could take more waste heat from the facility and supply more homes would have been much more expensive than this option. This will improve the performance of the incinerator, reducing carbon from connected heating systems by at least 80% compared to gas boilers while providing affordable heating to up to 8,000 more properties in Haringey and Hackney while reducing air pollution from gas boilers and supporting jobs and tackling fuel poverty.
The funding enables the heat network to access an additional 20MW of heat from the Edmonton plant. It is also supporting piloting the retrofit of heating systems in existing houses and flats enabling their connection to a local heat network. Connecting existing buildings to heat networks will be an increasingly important part of decarbonising heat in London. This will also support up to 36 jobs associated with the delivery of the overall project.

North London District Energy Network

Tony Arbour: Could the Mayor explain his decision to award £1.2million to the North London District Energy Network as it is linked to the building of the new incinerator at Edmonton which local MPs believe is a project that needs to be reviewed?

The Mayor: I have been clear with the Government that London is facing a climate emergency and does not need any further waste incinerator capacity to manage the city’s non-recyclable waste.
As I have stated in MQ 2020/1836, the Facility, which was supported by my predecessor, was approved by the Secretary of State in February 2017. An application by ‘Stop The Edmonton Incinerator Rebuild’ for a judicial review of the Government’s decision was unsuccessful in November 2019. The time period for a statutory challenge to the development consent order has now expired.
In these circumstances, I am now focused on making sure that this facility, and London’s other existing incinerators minimise their environmental impact by only managing truly non-recyclable waste, maximising electricity generation and capturing the waste heat created during the process and operating to the most stringent air quality standards possible.
District energy networks, maximising the use of renewable and waste heat sources, form an important part of my strategy to tackle the climate emergency and get London to net zero carbon. This project supports Enfield, Haringey and Hackney in their efforts to tackle the climate emergency through the development of a multi-borough district energy network that will use the low carbon waste heat that will be available from the new Edmonton Energy Recovery Facility. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared with conventional gas boilers while reducing air pollution from them.

Greenwash

Tony Devenish: Do you agree with Greenpeace UK's John Sauven, that "this is the golden age for greenwash. Any company that wants to gain the public's trust and be a genuine green leader needs to put in the hard work first and put up the billboards later"? What exactly have you done over the last four and a half years to help address this problem?

The Mayor: I have always been clear that my vision for London’s environment must be driven by evidence and successful real world actions. Over the last four years I have introduced the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, which has reduced roadside concentrations of nitrogen dioxide by over a third, and supported the delivery of over 289 rapid charge points and over 2,000 standard charge points; London has peaked its emissions from 1990 levels and in 2018, emission had fallen by 29% from 1990 levels. Our efforts have been recognised independently through numerous awards, showing the rigour and world leading nature of our actions in London. This includes a C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for the Ultra Low Emission Zone, being the UK’s first National Winner in WWF’s One Planet City Challenge for climate action, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) awarding London an A grade for climate action for three years running and an EVIE (Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Award) for Public Transport Authority of the Year, in recognition of the progress made on supporting electric vehicles in the capital and have recently been nominated by WRI for a Ross Center Sustaintable Cities or ULEZ.
I also agree that everyone, including businesses, must take the climate emergency seriously and take genuine action in line with climate science. Over the past four years I have been working with some of London’s leading businesses through my London Business Climate Leaders initiative which aims to drive action by London’s businesses on climate change. Businesses selected were assessed by CDP and We Mean Business against globally recognised standards to ensure they were industry leaders in tackling climate change and that they were following up on their public commitments. Businesses who did not meet these standards are not able to work with us or receive our endorsement.

Support for older Londoners

Tony Devenish: How have you been supporting older Londoners during the pandemic and how are you responding to Positive Ageing in London’s survival plan for older Londoners this Winter?

The Mayor: The impact of the pandemic on older people has been all too clear – both in terms of mortality and serious illness, but also from the challenges of lockdown and social isolation.
The infrastructure established to support shielding and other vulnerable households has enabled my officers to work with partners to disseminate informationdirectly relevant to older Londoners – from maintaining mental well-being through to claiming pension credit and free TV licenses.
And, of course, I have successfully dissuaded ministers from withdrawing travel concessions to older Londoners.
The London Recovery Programme will provide further opportunities to respond to the priorities of older Londoners, and through my Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group I have been able to ensure that stakeholders from the older Londoners sector – including representatives from Positive Ageing in London – are able to play an active role in shaping that programme.

Freeports

Shaun Bailey: What consideration have you given to freeports in London?

The Mayor: No amount of UK ‘freeports’ will be an adequate substitute for the existing benefits of the current customs union and single market obtained through membership of the European Union. Nor will they be an effective mitigation for the impact on businesses from losing this access through a no deal or flimsy deal Brexit.
To date neither the GLA or LEAP have been approached by potential bidders requesting endorsement of an application to the Government’s scheme. However, I will continue to work closely with the Port of London Authority, its partners and the wider south-east, to ensure that any future plans align with my vision to deliver good growth for London that is economically and socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Any future plans for this and any other freeport would be closely scrutinised to assess any impacts on jobs, business, transport, air quality and the environment in London.

Tactile paving

Caroline Pidgeon: Does every London Overground station have tactile paving on all platforms? If this is not the case, please state the specific dates by which this vital access facility will be provided.

The Mayor: Every London Overground station has tactile paving on all London Overground platforms, with the exception of Clapton. Transport for London is assessing the scale and cost of the work, and officers will inform your office as soon as this has been completed

NOx readings

Leonie Cooper: What do the readings from Air Quality monitors show for NOx in Tooting, Clapham Junction and Morden?

The Mayor: London’s air quality monitoring stations are operated and funded by London boroughs, Transport for London and Heathrow Airport and they make the data publicly available. City Hall analysis found the 2020 average NO2 from January up to 8 October:
The annual mean legal limit for NO2 is 40µg/m3.

Applications to the non-ACM cladding fund

Andrew Dismore: How many applications have been made to date to the non-ACM fund under the Building Safety Programme for remediation of buildings in London?

The Mayor: The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) closed the registration process for the Building Safety Fund on 31 July 2020. The GLA is a delivery partner in administering the fund for London.
MHCLG publishes registration statistics for the Building Safety Fund which is available on its website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings. As of 9 December 2020, MHCLG had passed 151 registrations to the GLA.

20mph Roads

Tony Devenish: Will you commit to making Edith Grove, Finborough Road and Redcliffe Gardens in Chelsea 20mph roads?

The Mayor: In July 2018, Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police launched the Vision Zero Action Plan, introducing a programme to lower the speed limit by 10mph on 140km of the TfL Road Network. Under the first phase of this programme, a 20mph speed limit was introduced on the TfL Road Network in Central London in March 2020.
TfL is now progressing work to introduce 20 mph speed limits on key TfL Road Network corridors outside Central London. I can confirm that Edith Grove, Finborough Road and Redcliffe Gardens are part of TfL’s next phase of 20 mph speed limits. TfL is also working closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea to coordinate 20 mph speed limits on borough roads.

Addison Primary School Modernisation

Tony Devenish: Will you speak with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to urge them not to remove education space and playground space during the modernisation of Addison Primary School?

The Mayor: I am pleased to see investment in London’s school infrastructure, but it is important that when schools modernise that they ensure that sufficient space is devoted to informal education and play areas. My London Plan recognises the importance of open space for exercise and leisure.
In my new London Plan, policy S3, Education and childcare facilities, states that “development proposals for education and childcare facilities should ensure that facilities incorporate suitable, accessible outdoor space”. Furthermore, “development proposals should ensure that there is no net loss of education or childcare facilities, unless it can be demonstrated that there is no ongoing or future need.” London boroughs should follow these policies where planning permission is required for the modernisation of school facilities

Government intervention on EWS1s (2)

Andrew Dismore: With the Government training up new EWS1 assessors before addressing the issue of professional indemnity insurance, do you believe they understand how to address safety in London’s built environment?

The Mayor: I was very disappointed with the absence of an announcement from the Government on the ongoing professional indemnity issues. Until the Government unlocks the Professional Indemnity Insurance market, the wider system will remain broken. Put simply, those qualified to carry out remedial works essential to addressing this crisis must also have access to sufficient cover.
The prolonged lack of a comprehensive national solution continues to take a heavy toll on many thousands of Londoners – both financially and in terms of their wellbeing. That is why I wrote to the Secretary of State in September regarding EWS1, setting out five urgent steps he must take to solve this issue for both leaseholders and the housing market. I am still yet to receive a response, but their recent announcement will not work in isolation. I will keep pressing for a properly integrated package of measures that fixes the problem once and for all.

London's Electricity Requirements

Tony Devenish: What research has been undertaken on the cost of upgrading the London electricity grid before all cars can become electric cars?

The Mayor: To prepare for the mass roll out of electric vehicles (EVs), my officers have convened key London stakeholders, including London Councils, with London’s Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). This is ensuring information including the Mayor’s plans to be net zero are taken into account in the development of DNOs network investment strategies to ensure London’s electricity grid meets demand from EVs and other electrification ambitions. . By knowing where and when network upgrades are likely to be needed, they can then invest in the right places, at the right time.
My Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce, , published a Delivery Plan last year (http://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/london-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-ta...).Evidence provided to the Taskforce by National Grid and DNOs indicates that these concerns are either not material or can be mitigated with planning and introduction of coordinated smart response. The regulator (Ofgem) will review all plans, including projected costs, as part of the DNO’s business plan submissions next year https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2020/08/ed2_draft_business_pl.... To ensure continued effective planning and coordination I have reconvened the Taskforce and this remains an ongoing area of priority.

Hammersmith Temporary Road Bridge

Tony Devenish: Will you insist TfL takes a temporary road bridge for Hammersmith seriously? Do you agree seven more years without a road bridge is completely unacceptable?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has already conducted a thorough analysis of the proposal for a temporary road bridge put forward by Beckett Rankine. I refer you to my answer to your question in October’s Mayor’s Question Time round for further details (2020/3750).
With regards to the more recent proposal for a two-deck road and pedestrian bridge put forward by ‘Foster + Partners’ in November, TfL is assisting the Department for Transport and Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in reviewing this proposal to determine its viability.

Working from Home

Tony Devenish: Do you agree we used to work from home, but now many Londoners, live at work ? What specifically have you done to ensure Londoners don’t become like hamsters on a wheel?

The Mayor: I have been open that I have found working from home difficult at times. If you thrive on company, mixing with people and sharing ideas, online meetings and fully remote working do not always provide the same experience.
Some people have found their working days getting longer- starting earlier and finishing later. Employers need to the right thing by their employees and support them to set clear boundaries and ensure good work-life balance. I have made this clear to the GLA workforce, promoted the practical wellbeing tools from Thrive LDN and offered guidance on homeworking via the London Business Hub. The rollout of the vaccine presents a clear route out of this crisis, and with it a return to London’s offices for those who prefer physical separation of work and life.
But for now, in line with Government guidance, we need people who can work from home to do so to help to suppress the virus in London and save lives. Many employers have woken up to flexible working and Londoners are feeling the benefit of that. I am a long-time supporter of flexible working which ultimately is an important tool in supporting better work-life balance, general wellbeing and economic fairness.

Old Oak Common Access Road

Tony Devenish: Will you ask the OPDC to liaise between H&F and HS2 Ltd to try to gain agreement to use Old Oak Common Lane instead of Braybrook Street as an access road as they had committed to do?

The Mayor: OPDC has already been in close liaison with both HS2 and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to seek a revised solution for the use of Old Oak Common Lane instead of Braybrook Street for the access HS2 requires to Wormwood Scrubs. Good progress has been made and OPDC is anticipating a planning application from London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the alternative access, early in the new year.

Homes valued at £100,000

Leonie Cooper: Several constituents have been in touch about some information they have seen about homes for sale for £100,000. Could you shed some light on whether this is at all feasible - has MHCLG offered a new subsidy pot, or is there some free land available now in London?

The Mayor: In November 2020, I launched the details of my Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026. Because the greatest need in London is for social rent, I negotiated a majority social rent programme. Shared ownership is an important part of affordable housing delivery, but I’m concerned that proposals to deliver 100,000 shared ownership homes at £100,000 do not reflect London’s housing need.
London would need significantly more funding through the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 than Government has provided to deliver 100,000 shared ownership homes alongside an adequate number of social rented homes. I have long called for additional funding to be provided by the Government, but the first priority must remain building homes for social rent.
Even assuming shared ownership homes are delivered at the £28,000 fixed grant rates within the current Affordable Homes Programme 2016-2023, this would take up £2.8 billion of the £4 billion of total funding. Diverting funding away from building homes for social rent would mean homeless people and people in overcrowded accommodation having to wait longer for a decent, affordable home.

The Ethnicity Pay Gap

David Kurten: To ask the Mayor for an update on the work taking place to close the ethnicity pay gap at City Hall and the wider GLA Family?

The Mayor: The GLA has led the way on ethnicity pay gap reporting (still not a statutory requirement) by publishing ethnicity pay gap audits alongside action plans since 2017. The GLA Group organisations are among the very few organisations which currently publish ethnicity pay reporting data. GLA Group organisations also publish an action plan alongside the data setting out how they are working to close the pay gap. The GLA was highlighted in research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in August 2018 as a case study of best practice on ethnicity pay reporting.
Since 2017 the GLA has narrowed the ethnicity pay gap by 4.95% to 11.05%. Actions which have supported this include the Talent Management Programme – a pilot positive action programme to support the progression of Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic staff in the GLA. The GLA has also set up a Race Equity Action Group, which is focused on closing the ethnicity pay gap, chaired by members of the Corporate and Senior Management Teams working together with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network and members of staff who put themselves forward to take part.
Since 2016, the ethnic diversity of candidates has increased to 42% for both external and internal applicants (up from 37% and 39% respectively). In that time the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in the GLA has also increased by 5% to a record 30%, having hovered at 25% on average for the previous decade. Representation has risen by 3% in the last financial year alone and representation of senior Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff at senior levels (Grade 12 and above) has also increased by 4% to 14% in March this year.
I have ensured all the GLA Group organisations have robust action plans to tackle ethnicity pay gaps, which are published alongside their ethnicity pay gap reports. The GLA’s 2019 ethnicity pay gap report and action plan can be found here and ethnicity pay gap action plans for LFB, LLDC, OPDC, TfL, MOPAC and the MPS are available online. GLA Group ethnicity pay gap data as of 31 March 2020 and action plans will be published shortly.
Ensuring the GLA group lead by example on workforce diversity has been a key principle of my leadership in this area. The Workforce Integration Network – which addresses the under-representation of young Black men in the construction and digital industries, and the Good Work Standard – which promotes progressive employment practice, both highlight how my leadership is influencing employers across London.

GLA Organisation

Shaun Bailey: Please provide a list of all directorates within City Hall and the total number of people employed in each one. Please also include subdivisions.

The Mayor: The GLA directorates and the units within these, and the total number of people employed in them, as at 30 September 2020, are below.
The headcount figure is higher than the full-time equivalent figure, as some of the posts are job-share.
Directorate/Unit
Headcount
FTE
Assembly Secretariat
86.00
86.00
Assembly Communications
6.00
7.00
Committee and Member Services
24.00
24.00
Conservative Group Support
13.00
12.80
Labour Group Support
21.00
20.40
Scrutiny and Investigation
20.00
19.80
Director
2.00
2.00
Chief Officer
43.00
38.34
Corporate Management Team Support
3.00
3.00
Human Resources and Organisational Development
38.00
33.34
Transformation
1.00
1.00
Chief Officer
1.00
1.00
Communities and Skills
193.00
181.82
Communities and Social Policy
35.00
31.65
Health, Education and Youth
43.00
41.20
Skills and Employment
80.00
76.95
Team London
33.00
30.82
Director
2.00
1.20
Good Growth
299.00
287.54
Culture and Creative Industries
35.00
33.90
Environment
69.00
66.73
European Programme Management
25.00
23.99
Planning
67.00
66.20
Regeneration and Economic Development
72.00
67.32
Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity
30.00
28.40
Director
1.00
1.00
Housing and Land
174.00
168.56
Investment and Operations
40.00
38.13
Programme, Policy and Services
85.00
82.08
Strategic Projects and Property
48.00
47.40
Director
1.00
0.95
Mayor's Office
61.00
60.20
Mayor and Mayoral Appointees
14.00
14.00
Deputy Mayor's Support
15.00
14.20
Mayoral Support Team
23.00
23.00
Private Office and Correspondence
9.00
9.00
Resources
147.00
143.74
Facilities Management
61.00
59.02
Financial Services
25.00
24.80
Group Finance and Performance
9.00
9.00
Group Treasury
6.00
5.40
Information Technology
45.00
44.52
Director
1.00
1.00
Strategy and Communications
181.00
175.48
City Operations
12.00
12.00
External Relations
74.00
70.73
Government and EU Relations
7.00
6.86
Information Governance
3.00
3.00
Mayor's Press Office
17.00
16.90
Policy and Performance
4.00
4.00
Strategy Intelligence and Analysis
64.00
61.99
GLA Total
1184
1142

GLA Staff

Shaun Bailey: Which GLA Senior Staff and Mayoral Staff share business support staff?

The Mayor: For this answer, business support staff has been defined as personal support staff, which means Personal Assistants and Executive Assistants. Additionally, shared staff has been defined as members of support staff who work for both a senior member of GLA staff and a member of Mayoral staff.
At present there is only one instance of this. The Mayoral Health Advisor shares a Personal Assistant with the Assistant Director of Health, Education and Youth and the Head of Health.
There are a number of instances of a member of support staff working for more than one senior member of GLA staff, or for more than one member of Mayoral staff.

Mayor of London Press Officers

Shaun Bailey: How many press officers did the Mayor of London employ in the 2019/20 year and what was the total cost of this?

The Mayor: Under Section 67 (2) of the GLA Act 1999, the Mayor may appoint 13 staff. All other staff at the GLA are appointed by the Head of Paid Service, under the HoPS protocol.
The Mayor does not employ any Press Officers. All the current Press Officers at the GLA are HoPS appointees. Of these, 15 were employed in the Mayor’s Press Office in 2019/20, at a total cost of £916,994.94 and 10 in the Assembly Secretariat at a total cost of £499,674.

Brexit and London’s businesses (1)

Leonie Cooper: Can you provide an update on what London’s businesses are telling you with regards to the transition period ending at the end of this month (December 2020)?

The Mayor: London business leaders have told me that they want the UK Government to agree a trade deal with the EU before the transition period ends. A no deal Brexit would cause enormous damage and must be avoided at all costs.
However, the Government has failed to provide any certainty for businesses about the changes they will need to make; or support to do this in reasonable time.
As a result too many businesses remain uninformed about what the end of the transition period means; and are unprepared for the challenges they could face. Many have been too overwhelmed by the impacts of the pandemic to focus sufficiently on Brexit.
We are continuing to provide Brexit-related support through my London Business Hub. But if a trade deal cannot be found I therefore urge the Government to seek an immediate extension to the transition period.

Adult Education Budget (7)

Jennette Arnold: As so many AEB funded courses have moved online, (a) has the capacity of courses increased in any areas and (b) have you seen demand fall or increase?

The Mayor: As part of my immediate skills response to the pandemic, I launched my £11m Skills for Londoners COVID-19 Response Fund to support adult education providers develop their digital infrastructure so they had increased capacity to deliver provision online while Londoners were unable to attend their courses in person.
At present the GLA is not able to measure either demand or the capacity for particular courses. The GLA does receive information on enrolments which captures where capacity meets demand. However, due to data reconciliation processes we will not be able to see the full picture of how this looks for the current academic year, or compare against previous years, until December 2021.
In preparation for the 2021-22 academic year the GLA is looking to capture more detailed information on how providers are planning their provision to meet learner needs both online and through in-person delivery. We expect to collect these plans ahead of the next academic year in September 2021.

Home schooling

Jennette Arnold: More children are being taken out of school to be home-educated, particularly among families from minority ethnic communities, who are at greater risk from Covid and may be more fearful of catching it. Further to your Learning at Home platform earlier this year when schools were closed, what are you doing to ensure those children who remain home-schooled in London are still receiving a full education?

The Mayor: The Government must step up their support for schools and local authorities to ensure home-schooled children receive the full education they are entitled to by law. This includes ensuring all children have digital access to learning, which I have called on the Education Secretary to do – please see Mayor’s question 2020/1877. I have also put in place a variety of initiatives to support parents, carers, teachers and students during the pandemic - please see Mayor’s question 2020/3337.

Adult Education Budget (5)

Jennette Arnold: Following your call for further devolution of funding and a return to 2008 levels, what conversations have you had with Government?

The Mayor: Following the joint publication of the ‘Call for Action’ (September 2019) with London Councils, my Deputy Mayor for Planning Regeneration and Skills and I made the case for further skills devolution at meetings with the Education Secretary and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills.
I have also worked closely with the M9 group of Mayors. We have raised a collectively agreed proposal for further skills devolution in meetings with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Minister for Employment, and the Regional Growth and Local Government Minister.
I set out calls for further skills devolution and increased funding in my submission to the Treasury ahead of November’s Comprehensive Spending Review, and, following a letter from M9 Mayors, the Prime Minister has agreed to delegate administration of the forthcoming Level 3 funding extension to London and the Mayoral Combined Authorities.
My officers have discussed our CSR and Lifetime Skills Guarantee proposals with Treasury and Department for Education officials and I have requested further meetings with Ministers on these issues.

Adult Education Budget (6)

Jennette Arnold: As so many AEB funded courses are happening online, how have you changed your assessment of courses?

The Mayor: The arrangements for assessing courses delivered by providers under adult education budget remain the same for online and directly delivered courses. Following delegation of the adult education budget, Ofsted remains as the body responsible for inspecting the quality of provision at organisations providing education and training in London. Awarding bodies also carry out their own checks on courses to maintain the consistency of awards in addition to the checks that Ofsted would complete.
As with the previous academic year, the GLA continues to receive information and monitor delivery on learner participation, retention, completion and achievement for all courses, including those delivered online.

Adult Education Budget (3)

Jennette Arnold: Can you tell me how you have adapted your Adult Education programmes to ensure those hardest hit by the pandemic are not left behind?

The Mayor: I have allowed Adult Education Budget (AEB) providers to use 10% of their funding to provide non-accredited training. This will unlock up to £23m for pre-employment and job-focused training to support those hardest hit by the pandemic.In July, I launched an £11m COVID-19 Response Fund to help AEB providers adapt during the pandemic, including supporting additional provision for those furloughed or made redundant, and providing digital equipment and training for those most at risk of digital exclusion. I have supplemented the £12.9m COVID-19 Skills Recovery Package London received from the government with a further £2m to support unemployed Londoners, including those who are long-term unemployed.
This year, the AEB includes an essential digital skills entitlement, meaning digitally excluded Londoners can access free provision to improve their digital skills. I have made all ‘level 3’ qualifications, lasting for a year or less, free for any adult Londoner unemployed or earning below the London Living Wage, giving them the opportunity to gain new skills or retrain.

Adult Education Budget (4)

Jennette Arnold: Can you confirm how many applicants there were to Strand 2 of the COVID-19 AEB response fund and how many were successful?

The Mayor: Strand 2 of the COVID-19 Response Fund invited applications from both AEB grant-funded and procured providers for one‑off grants to support the up-front costs of building capacity to enable providers to adapt their delivery of education and training to respond to the immediate and medium‑term impact of COVID-19.
From a total of 103 eligible providers, 80 organisations applied and were awarded funding. A list of awards made through Strand 2 of the COVID-19 Response Fund can be found here.

Tech jobs for young Londoners (3)

Susan Hall: Further to your press release dated 01.12.16, entitled “Mayor unveils £7m fund to help young Londoners access tech jobs”, could you please advise as to whether 500 university students have gained new skills and work experience through small business placements.

The Mayor: To date, the programme has supported over 354 learners to gain new skills and work experience through the Higher Level Digital Skills, Digital Skills Training, Digital Work Placement and Young Entrepreneurs projects. It is expected that the full target of 500 learners supported to gain new skills and work experience through work placements will be achieved within the programme lifetime. In February 2020, the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) widened the target to include organisations larger than small business to allow a wider group of young Londoners to benefit from these sector-wide opportunities.

Tech jobs for young Londoners (2)

Susan Hall: Since your press release dated 01.12.16, entitled “Mayor unveils £7m fund to help young Londoners access tech jobs”, could you please advise as to whether 1,000 young Londoners have since been able to access new industry approved learning opportunities.

The Mayor: The Mayor’s Digital Talent programme is a multi-stranded programme that aims to increase the quality and volume of industry-led digital training opportunities for young Londoners aged 16-24 years. The programme has a special focus on young women and people from BAME background to increase the representation of these groups in the digital and tech sectors in London.
Since its launch in 2017, it has supported more than 1,154 young Londoners to gain new, industry approved learning opportunities throughout the Digital Skills Training and Young Entrepreneurs projects.
Digital Skills Training is focused on employability and digital skills, and trains young Londoners, in a range of digital specialisms from front‑end web development, digital marketing, gaming to visual effects. The Young Entrepreneurs projects prepare, coach and support young people in the planning and development of a start-up, through different levels of support, including an intense internship and accelerator programme. These training programmes have been co-developed with industry players, ensuring their relevancy to the job market.

London Road Space

Tony Devenish: Broken down by borough, how many miles of road space have been removed from London’s roads since March?

The Mayor: No road space has been removed since March. Some road space has been reallocated away from motor vehicles, and given to active, efficient and sustainable modes of transport, as per the policies and objectives of both Transport Strategy and my Streetspace programme.

Idling on Vauxhall Bridge Road

Tony Devenish: Will you support the installation of a traffic camera on Vauxhall Bridge Road in order to crack down on idling?

The Mayor: Current legislation only gives the police and Local Authorities powers to enforce against engine idling, and these powers cannot be enforced by camera.

Tech jobs for young Londoners (1)

Susan Hall: Further to your press release dated 01.12.16, entitled “ Mayor unveils £7m fund to help young Londoners access tech jobs”, could you please provide examples of by how much the number of high-quality learning opportunities for young people aged 15-24 years old in London, to study industry-designed courses in technology, digital & digital-creative disciplines has increased?

The Mayor: The Mayor’s Digital Talent Programme aims to increase the quality and volume of industry-led digital training opportunities for young Londoners aged 16-24 years. The programme is also focused on increasing opportunities for young women and BAME groups who are under-represented in the digital and tech sector.
The programme has funded twelve projects targeted at specific needs of the learners, and these have been co-developed with industry practitioners to ensure their market relevance. To date, more than 1,154 young Londoners have accessed new, industry approved learning opportunities (comprising digital, employability and entrepreneurial skills). Over 350 young Londoners have gained new skills and work experience through work placements.
In addition, 879 school and FE teachers have been upskilled in industry-relevant digital skills learning and qualifications, and this will in turn translate into improved quality of teaching for young people (11 – 24).

Culture Spending

Susan Hall: How much money have you spent on culture in each year since May 2016?

The Mayor: London's culture and creative industries generate £58.4bn each year and provide one in six jobs in the capital. They drive tourism and hospitality and will play a vital economic and social role in accelerating the capital’s recovery from COVID-19.
Expenditure of the Culture and Creative Industries Unit from April 2016 to March 2020 financial years is below, including the GLA's joint statutory duty to fund the Museum of London with the City of London Corporation.
Year
Culture & Creative Industries Unit
Museum of London
Total
£ m
£ m
£ m
16/17 Expenditure
4.4
8.1
12.5
17/18 Expenditure
5.9
8.0
13.9
18/19 Expenditure
8.0
8.6
16.6
19/20 Expenditure
10.7
7.9
18.6
Total
29.0
32.6
61.6

London Games Festival

Shaun Bailey: What is the total amount of money that has been given by the GLA to the London Games Festival since May 2016?

The Mayor: TheLondon Games Festivalispart ofmyCreative Economy Growth Programme which has been funded by successive Mayors since the year 2000. It createsjobs and growthbydeliveringnew sales, exports and inward investmentin the creative industries.
Last year,the GLA’s funding to London Games Festival helped to deliver £11 million in new inward investment for games businesses.
Since May 2016,I havegranted £2,192,000to London Games Festival.

Partnership flood management funding

Caroline Russell: The November 2020 National Audit Office (NAO) report, Managing Flood Risk, shows that London received the lowest amount of partnership funding for flood defences of any region in England between 2015-16 and 2020-21. In this period, London achieved only £11 million in partnership funding compared with £112 million in the East of England. What actions are you taking to ensure that all possible investment is secured to protect London from flooding?

The Mayor: The Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authorities, which in London are the boroughs, are responsible for flood risk management schemes. Funding is provided firstly by Government Grant in Aid (GIA), secondly through local levies from local authorities, and thirdly through partnership funding from direct beneficiaries of flood reduction projects. Partnership funding, which is a private or local authority ‘top up’ contribution from beneficiaries of flood schemes, is needed where schemes do not meet the criteria to be fully funded by Government Grant in Aid.
Flood risk funding is distributed based on the level of flood risk which drives the level of investment in each region. London enjoys a high standard of protection against tidal flood risk, the most significant flood risk to London, due to historic investment in tidal defences to manage the risk. Where investment is required in critical schemes to protect the capital, much of London’s flood risk infrastructure meets the funding criteria to be fully funded by GIA, without the need for partnership funding ‘top up’. This is in part due to the high density of homes and other assets. The East of England by contrast, has high flood risk, with a long coastline and low lying land, yet lower populations densities and fewer critical assets at risk. Flood schemes therefore often require partnership funding contributions to meet threshold criteria for a flood defence project to proceed.
London and other urban areas find it harder to attract government funding for surface water flood protection, from which London has little protection. The many small schemes needed to manage surface water risk rarely meet the funding criteria. In order to increase investment, we are working with the Environment Agency and other key stakeholders to explore how to better quantify the benefits of widespread strategically located sustainable drainage across London to manage flood risk and create new green infrastructure that can unlock further match funding. Officers are working with partners to estimate what investement in SUDS London requires to fully manage surface water flood risk. This new evidence will allow us to lobby Government for further funding and also to target and prioritise delivery to locations that unlock greatest benefit and value for money.

Supporting Noel Park Leaseholders

Caroline Pidgeon: You will be aware that many leaseholders in Haringey’s Noel Park have recently received Section 20 Notices requiring them to pay extortionate bills, often exceeding £100,000, for replacing pod bathrooms. Leaseholders do not object to the works, but the sums they are being asked to pay are significantly higher than those the Council had quoted them previously. Additionally, Haringey Council’s proposed repayment plan would see some leaseholders paying over £3,000 a month in repayments. Will you raise this directly with Haringey Council and speak to those affected to try and find an urgent resolution for residents?

The Mayor: I understand how worrying it must be for leaseholders at Noel Park to be facing such high costs, particularly at a time when there is considerable financial anxiety for so many people.
Although I am responsible for devolved capital budgets for housing, I am unable to fund these costs as they do not contribute to the supply of new homes. I understand that these works are designed to increase energy efficiency. Haringey Council may wish to explore whether it is possible for any funding to be obtained through the Energy Company Obligation, or the more recently announced Green Homes Grant funding.
I trust that Haringey Council will ensure that the costs of the works are transparent and properly consulted on with leaseholders through the Section 20 consultation processes.

Signalised junctions without a signalised pedestrian crossing

Caroline Russell: How many signalised junctions for motor traffic are there in London with signals provided by Transport for London (TfL)? And in total: a) how many junctions have arms without signalised pedestrian crossings, and b) how many arms of junctions are missing a signalised crossing overall?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of all traffic signals in Greater London.
There are currently 2,784 signalised junctions in Greater London. Of these junctions, 261 do not have any pedestrian crossing facilities. Although the precise number of arms of junctions with signalised crossings is not readily available, all other junctions have pedestrian crossing facilities on one or more arms.
As set out in my Walking Action Plan, TfL is committed to reducing barriers to people walking, including improved pedestrian crossings to address severance issues and road danger.
In the last financial year (2019/20), 61 pedestrian crossings on the TLRN have had new or improved signals installed, and TfL has worked with boroughs and Living Streets to develop a pipeline of prioritised crossings for future improvement where pedestrian safety concerns have been raised.
As part of TfL’s traffic signal timing review programme in 2019/20, a total of 2,318 pedestrian hours have been saved through refinement of traffic signal timings.
As part of TfL’s traffic signal modernisation programme, the presence of pedestrian controlled facilities is considered during modernisation and opportunities to add facilities are carefully considered.

Mass deportation flights

Florence Eshalomi: The Home Office has used specially chartered flights to deport rejected refugees and migrants en masse for 12 years now. A constituent of mine wants Government to end this method of deportation for foreign-born offenders who came to the UK as children. Do you share her concerns that mass deportation flights are a violation of basic human rights?

The Mayor: The Government should support people to access their rights instead of expediting deportations. The Government’s discriminatory hostile environment policies are affecting children and young people, alongside their parents and grandparents. I published research in January, which estimated that there are 133,000 undocumented children and young people in London who risk deportation once they turn 18. Some were born here; others have been here since childhood. They are British in all but paperwork, but the UK’s citizenship fees have become among the highest in the world under this Government. I’m dedicated to supporting young Londoners to access their citizenship and settlement rights and I’ve contributed funding to the Justice Together Initiative to make immigration advice more accessible across London. I’ll keep calling on the Government to reduce citizenship and immigration fees, as well as reinstating legal aid for children, which is vital for ensuring that children and young people are protected from this injustice.

E-scooters

Florence Eshalomi: Can you reassure my constituents that the increased use of e-scooters will enable pedestrians to use pavements safely? We must ensure greener forms of transport are safe for all concerned via additional regulation and by ensuring there is not a law enforcement deficit.

The Mayor: Private use of e-scooters on any public highway remains illegal, and the Metropolitan Police Service is undertaking enforcement activity to deal with illegal use of e-scooters, including enforcing against activities such as riding e-scooters on pavements.
On 17 November 2020, Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils launched the procurement process to select up to three operators for a multi-borough London rental e-scooter trial. The trial is scheduled to commence in spring 2021, with safety as the main focus. Riding on pavements or footways will remain illegal throughout the trial, and boroughs will be specifying where e-scooters can and cannot be ridden or parked, supported by geofencing technology.
Prospective operators bidding for the trial will be assessed on their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards. This will include plans for providing the appropriate technology and comprehensive training to users on how to ride e-scooters safely and considerately, ­including absolute clarity on the prohibition of riding e-scooters on footways.

‘Save Christmas’ – Plight of Restaurants & Hospitality Sector

Navin Shah: The Tier two announcement allowing restaurants and some pubs to remain open has seen a distinct increase in bookings and been welcome by the hospitality sector. However, the sector is still facing a tough time beyond festive period. What do you expect Government to do the help the sector on its knees and how can you do to revive the hospitality sector in London?

The Mayor: The decision by the government to rapidly put London into tier three from 16 December was incredibly disappointing for London businesses who have suffered so much already this year.
We now urgently need more government support for the hardest hit sectors of our economy, including hospitality, culture and leisure. For any businesses affected by the further restrictions put in place during the festive period. I have called for a compensation scheme which covers lost income, based on last year’s returns. The Government must also cover the full cost of Statutory Sick Pay for workers who have to self-isolate. I continue to lobby for extension of the business rates holiday and a reversal on the decision to end VAT-free shopping.
I’m determined to do all I can to support London’shospitality sector and continue to provide grants and support directly to businesses. I also am urgently pressing forward with key London stakeholders on a meaningful and achievable roadmap for the safe reopening London’s economy, with recommended actions for Government, boroughs, City Hall and other partners.

School Streets (3)

Leonie Cooper: Has the School Streets scheme reached all the schools identified as needing support? If not how many schools across London do you estimate are still in need of interventions like school streets in order to improve their air quality?

The Mayor: As part of my Streetspace programme, School Streets have been introduced in order to provide space for social distancing and to support children to be able to walk, cycle and scoot safely to school during the coronavirus pandemic, however it is hoped that the reduction in school-run traffic outside these schools will also help to improve air quality. As part of the Streetspace programme, School Streets have been introduced at 322 sites benefiting 317 schools, including outside 4 of the 14 schools where NO2 levels exceeded legal limits in 2019. The Breathe London project is currently looking into the impact of School Streets on air quality at a number of schools across London.
I have separately funded air quality improvements at 50 primary schools, and thanks to bold measures to improve air quality prior to the coronavirus pandemic this has seen the number of state schools with illegal levels of pollution fall by 97 per cent (from 455 schools in 2016 to just 14 in 2019). A new London Schools Pollution Helpdesk has recently been announced which will support schools London-wide to deliver air quality audits and will prioritise the remaining schools in areas of London still exceeding or nearly exceeding legal pollution levels.

School Streets (2)

Leonie Cooper: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of schools who had signed up for your School Streets programme prior to April 2020.

The Mayor: Prior to the inception of my Streetspace programme, School Streets were coordinated by boroughs individually rather than via Transport for London (TfL). As such, the exact number of pre-Streetspace School Streets is difficult to verify; however, earlier this year, TfL officers carried out a data collection exercise that estimated there were over 80 School Streets active in London before the pandemic.

Unsafe Junction between Cheyne Walk and Beaufort Street

Tony Devenish: Residents and councillors are anxious and have been for at least twenty years that the Cheyne Walk/Beaufort Street junction, which is on TfL’s TLRN network, is unsafe. Pedestrians regularly report feeling unsafe and I have heard about a number of near-accidents at this location. TfL undertook to address improvements in August 2002 and confirmed that a press button “green man” control would be installed in 2005. This was not achieved and despite numerous subsequent initiatives to address the problem the junction remains unsafe and in safety terms unimproved.

Kensington and Chelsea Council fully supports pedestrian improvements at the junction, as does the local amenity society and local residents association. Does the Mayor of London support such improvements; and will the Mayor commit to accelerating TfL sign-offs associated with such a scheme, so that we can improve road safety in Chelsea?

The Mayor: I am committed to delivering a Vision Zero approach to road danger to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s streets by 2041.
I am very supportive of bringing forward pedestrian and cycle safety improvements to the Cheyne Walk / Beaufort Street junction, as well as a high-quality cycle route along Chelsea Embankment. I understand that Transport for London’s (TfL) feasibility studies have highlighted that introducing safer facilities for pedestrians and cyclists without adverse impacts on buses and traffic will require some difficult choices to be made, including restricting traffic movements at the junction. I have asked TfL to continue to work closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to identify a workable solution.

Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26 (1)

Andrew Boff: Will the entire £4 billion affordable housing funding for 2021-26 be used to fund the 35,000 homes as set out in MD2707? If not, how much of the fund will be used?

The Mayor: The settlement for £4bn for the AHP 2021-26 programme will be used in full to support 35,000 affordable homes.

Streetspace (3)

Gareth Bacon: Since the introduction of the Streetspace programme, have you been monitoring congestion levels on the affected roads? If so, can those results be published?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) collects and analyses data which tracks the various benefits and impacts associated with some of the Streetspace schemes, including bus and general traffic journey times, and cycling levels where automatic counters are installed already. This monitoring activity has been designed for use by TfL’s operational teams to enable aspects of the design, including traffic signal timings, to be adjusted when required especially as road traffic levels return to pre-covid levels. This data is not routinely published

School Streets (1)

Leonie Cooper: Please provide a borough-by-borough breakdown of the number of schools who have signed up for the School Streets programme since April 2020.

The Mayor: Please find attached a breakdown of the number of School Streets completed under my Streetspace programme, correct to 30 October 2020. In total, 322 School Streets schemes have been delivered using TfL funding, benefitting 317 schools. Note that a few boroughs have delivered multiple schemes benefitting a single school, for example where more than one road closure has benefitted a single school, or else where emergency measures have been delivered and then followed up with a more permanent scheme in response to resident feedback. The majority of schemes will include timed road closures, however some Streetspace schemes that provided additional space for social distancing outside schools may also have been classified as School Streets.
This list does not include schemes delivered prior to the creation of the Streetspace programme, or schemes delivered during this period that were funded from other sources. Due to the way that proposals were submitted by boroughs and recorded by TfL, some additional School Street schemes may have been proposed and delivered as part of wider Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes or social distancing schemes, and may not have been classified as School Streets schemes and therefore are not included in this table.

Motorbike Accidents 3

Keith Prince: For each of the years November 2017 to October 2018, November 2018 to October 2019 and November 2019 to October 2020, for motorcyclist serious and fatal accidents in London, please provide a breakdown of the who the accident was with e.g. pedestrian, cyclist, car, bus, lorry etc

The Mayor: The latest provisional figures from the police for serious casualties are available to the end April 2020. These figures have been validated to meet the Department for Transport’s ‘Instructions for the Completion of Road Accident Reports’ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/230596/stats20-2011.pdf.
The table below shows all collisions, for the last three twelve-month periods to end April 2020, where a motorcyclist was killed or seriously injured, broken down by vehicle type involved. Please note that these are not mutually exclusive and that the powered two- wheeler collision numbers will include the vehicle of the casualty.
Collisions involving a motorcyclist killed or seriously injury by vehicle involved in the Greater London Area
Vehicle Type
May 2017 - April 2018
May 2018 - April 2019
May 2019 - April 2020 provisional
Powered Two Wheeler
1,037
1,109
879
Pedal Cyclist
6
10
8
Car
689
765
612
Taxi / PH
57
62
44
Bus or Coach
23
13
15
Goods Vehicle
120
123
113
Other
110
117
106
Pedestrian*
22
33
22
*The pedestrian numbers shown are from collisions where a motorcyclist was killed or seriously injured and also involving pedestrian injury, or recorded by the police as having contributory factor U000 uninjured pedestrian.
More details can be found in the ‘Casualties in Greater London during 2019’ factsheet at http://content.tfl.gov.uk/casualties-in-greater-london-2019.pdf

Brexit and London’s businesses (3)

Leonie Cooper: Are there are business sectors who are telling you that they are looking forward to Brexit with a deal, and if yes, what are the benefits that they identify?

The Mayor: London’s business leaders have been clear in their conversations with me that they want the UK Government to agree a trade deal with the EU. They want to avoid a costly and disruptive no deal Brexit that would leave many businesses struggling to survive and lead to increases in unemployment.
However, they are also disappointed the Government has failed to recognise the importance of the services sector in its approach to the negotiations. London is a world leader in finance, law, professional services, the creative industries and technology. Under any deal, these companies will now lose the access they had to the EU’s single market because of the government’s foolish “red lines”.
I have always said that retaining membership of the European single market and customs union would have been the best way forward for the UK’s economy and people.

Brexit and London’s businesses (2)

Leonie Cooper: Are there are business sectors who are telling you that they are looking forward to a no-deal Brexit, and if yes, what are the benefits that they identify?

The Mayor: No, quite the opposite. The CBI, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and London First all of whom who I meet with regularly have been very clear that a no deal Brexit would cause enormous damage and must be avoided at all costs.
They agree with me it is absolutely vital – for the good of the country and all of Europe - that the Government continue to negotiate and secures a deal that protects our economy and vital industries such as finance, law, professional services, the creative industries and technology.
If a trade deal cannot be reached, I am urging the Government to seek an immediate extension to the transition period. A no-deal outcome should simply not be an option. Getting this deadly virus under control and protecting jobs, livelihoods and businesses must be our absolute priority.

Active Travel Plans

Leonie Cooper: How many schools across London have adopted active travel plans?

The Mayor: The roll-out and implementation of active travel plans is the remit of all the 33 London boroughs, therefore Transport for London (TfL) does not hold data on the number of active travel plans at schools.
TfL has however provided all school children in London access, via their schools, to safety information via its STARS (Sustainable Travel: Active. Responsible. Safe) programme which includes a combination of on-line resources and live, interactive sessions delivered by the London Transport Museum on TfL’s behalf.
1,468 schools are registered on the STARS programme. In accordance with the Department of Education’s “Home to School travel and transport guidance” (July 2014), London schools are required by Local Authorities to provide School Travel plans, including an active travel and sustainable travel component. However, all London schools are not registered as a STARS school, so TfL does not hold information for all schools across London.
See my answer to Mayor’s Question 2020/3791 for further information.

Tier 2 in London (4)

Leonie Cooper: Can you list the support that the GLA is providing Londoners under the Tier 2 restrictions announced on 26 November 2020?

The Mayor: Following the Government’s announcement on 2 December that the nation would go into a three-tier system of COVID-19 restrictions, I moved swiftly to make sure Londoners were aware of the latest health guidance and what they need to do. My team produced bespoke translated information for different communities to explain the Tier 2 restrictions, including translations in Gujarati, Polish, Somali and Turkish.
My officers have also been supporting London’s Higher Education sector to coordinate with TfL and relevant health bodies on student travel and testing over Christmas.
My Employment Rights Hub continues to provide support to those workers that have concerns about how their work and income is affected by coronavirus and my London Business Hub provides support to businesses, having supported1,500 businesses so far. Over £1.1m of CovidRecoveryBusinessGrantshavebeen offered and£4.3m of CBILS loans secured for deliverythroughthe GLA’s arm’s length SME funding body,Funding London.
My Pay-it-Forward London campaignhasraised over £1.4million for over 400 small businessesandover£350,000 has been allocated via my Back to Business Fund.I launched myResilience Fundanda £2.3mCultureat Risk Business Support Fundwith 660 cases registered with theCulture atRisk office.

Tier 2 in London (3)

Leonie Cooper: Can you list the support that the Government is providing Londoners under the Tier 2 restrictions announced on 26 November 2020?

The Mayor: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme pays employees 80% of their salary for hours not worked up to £2,500. Self-employed support is available however many are ineligible, including the recently self-employed and those who trade through a limited company. Local Authorities are delivering Local Restrictions Support Grants and discretionary Additional Restrictions Grants to businesses. The government offered ‘wet’ pubs, that do not serve substantial meals in Tiers 2 and 3 a one-off £1,000 payment.
Covid-19 has presented unforeseen challenges to people and businesses across London and there still remain a staggering number of Londoners who are not eligible for these schemes. This is an intolerable position for these businesses and individuals to be in and many are facing continued financial hardship through no fault of their own. The Government needs to increase financial support for businesses, rectify the gaps in the self-employed scheme and make the main safety net work better for workers given many self-employed are relying on Universal Credit instead.

No deal Brexit

Leonie Cooper: What would a no-deal Brexit mean for London’s economy given the current economic crisis, and how does this compare to GLA research “The economic impact of Brexit on London” published in October 2019?

The Mayor: A no-deal Brexit under any circumstances means great damage to the London economy, with less growth and fewer jobs being created. In the current circumstances, as businesses across many key sectors struggle to survive, it will be yet another devastating blow. It could prove the final straw for many London businesses, contributing to a triple-whammy of bankruptcies, inflation and unemployment.
The 2019 GLA research referenced in your question estimates the impact of a no deal Brexit on the London economy from a range of different bodies: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/brexit-analysis-final.pdf
More recently, GLA Economics’ London Economic Outlook Autumn 2020 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/leo-autumn-2020.pdfdiscusses the impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit. It argues that while COVID-19 will have a significant detrimental impact on the economy, the effects of Brexit in whatever form it takes will be markedly higher and more permanent in the long run.
The Government’s own Office for Budget Responsibility has recently confirmed this, highlighting the greater damage of a no-deal Brexit: http://cdn.obr.uk/CCS1020397650-001_OBR-November2020-EFO-v2-Web-accessible.pdf

Night Czar achievements (2)

Susan Hall: What specific actions did you ask the Night Czar to undertake since lockdown began in March 2020 to support the recovery of London's night-time economy? a) How many actions has she achieved, b) How many actions remain outstanding, and c) What Key Performance Indicators did you ask her to perform against?

The Mayor: I refer the Assembly Member to the answer I have given for Question No. 2020/4715 https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/4715

Economy recovery meetings

Susan Hall: Please list the number of meetings held specifically between the Night Czar and the Deputy Mayor for Business since lockdown began in March 2020, the subject of those meetings, and the outcomes of those meetings.

The Mayor: I refer the Assembly Member to the answer I gave for question, MQ2020/3685, on 15th October. https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/3685 The appendix table in that question includes details of all the Night Czar’s meetings with my Deputy Mayors since the beginning of March. For meetings she has had with Deputy Mayor for Business since November please see the Appendix.
Appendix: Economy recovery meetings
Question No: 2020/4717
Susan Hall
Please list the number of meetings held specifically between the Night Czar and the Deputy Mayor for Business since lockdown began in March 2020, the subject of those meetings, and the outcomes of those meetings.
Date
Meeting with:
Activity
3 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
Meeting of the SCG Business & Economic Impacts sub-group to take views on keys asks, risks and issues of the upcoming planned four-week lockdown.
13 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group
18 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
London Covid Business Forum chaired by the Mayor to provide a space for the raising of urgent matters pertaining to the impact of the pandemic on London’s economy, and identifying key actions which can be taken by the Government, the GLA, boroughs, business organisations, to support businesses through the pandemic and as we emerge from it in months to come.
18 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and Mayoral Team
London Covid Business Forum follow-up with Mayoral Team arranged by Nick Bowes.
20 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group
23 Nov 2020
Mayor of London, Deputy Mayor for Business and other colleagues
Pre brief before the Mayor of London’s meeting with Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality
23 Nov 2020
Mayor of London, Deputy Mayor for Business and other colleagues
Mayor of London’s meeting with Kate Nicholls, UK Hospitality to discuss how they could help support the Mayor in the asks of Government and to plan for the next 30/100 days and beyond to recovery
Date
Meeting with:
Activity
24 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
London Business Reopening Strategy Group. Given the impact on Business and on London’s economy, the joint Chairs of the Transition Board, the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State for MHCLG, have agreed on the importance of establishing the Business Reopening sub-group. The Strategy Group will report to the London Transition Board and run in parallel with the establishment by the Mayor and London Councils of separate arrangements to plan for and oversee the capital’s longer-term economic and social recovery, and HM Government’s work on recovery.
25 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
Follow up to London Covid Business Forum arranged by Dep Mayor of Business
27 Nov 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group
4 Dec 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group
11 Dec 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group
16 Dec 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
London Covid Business Forum chaired by the Mayor of London
18 Dec 2020
Deputy Mayor for Business and other key stakeholders
SCG Business & Economic Impacts Sub-group

Night Time Borough Champions Network

Susan Hall: According to its GLA webpage, the last meeting of the Night Time Borough Champions Network was in April 2020. Why hasn't the Night Czar held any further meetings of this network in 2020 at such a crucial time in London's economic recovery from COVID-19?

The Mayor: The Night Time Borough Champions Network usually meets quarterly. So far this year there have been meetings on 18th February, 1st April, 30th April, 21st May, 22nd May and 8th December. These included additional meetings to discuss the impact of Covid-19 and to help develop night time strategy guidance for boroughs.

Night Czar achievements (1)

Susan Hall: Please list the specific achievements of the Night Czar since lockdown began.

The Mayor: I refer the Assembly Member to answer https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/3686 from 15th October.
The Night Czar continues support our work on London’s transition and recovery and is working hard to ensure a safe and coordinated reopening of businesses on the high street. She also continues to be in regular contact with those industries bodies that represent night time businesses. This ensures that we have the latest sector specific information about the ongoing impact of the pandemic. This informs our thinking around the support we can offer as well as our asks of Central Government.

Night Czar meetings

Susan Hall: Please list the number of individual meetings (both in-person and virtual) you have had with the Night Czar since lockdown began in March 2020 and the subject of those meetings.

The Mayor: I refer the Assembly Member to my answer from 15 October 2020, MQ2020/3685;
https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/3685 2020/3685.
In addition, I have been in two further video meetings with the Night Czar. These were a meeting of my Covid Business Forum and a meeting with the Chief Executive of UK Hospitality to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the sector.
In addition, on 3 December, my Night Czar and I accompanied The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall on a visit to Soho. The visit celebrated London’s night time economy and helped Their Royal Highnesses further understand the impact that Covid-19 has had on venues and night workers.

London’s Night Time Commission

Susan Hall: What work has the London’s Night Time Commission produced specifically on the sector's recovery from the global pandemic?

The Mayor: The London Night Time Commission ceased to exist in January 2019 following publication of their final report, ‘Think Night’. Since then, I have continued to deliver on the recommendations of that report.
My Night Time Enterprise Zone Pilot Project in Walthamstow was completed earlier this year. I convened the Late Night Transport Working Group and the development of the Night Time Data Observatory is nearing completion. Guidance created to assist boroughs in developing their own night time strategies includes a section on how local authorities can support night time business in recovering from the impact of Covid-19.

London Borough of Culture Spending

Susan Hall: How much money have you spent on the London borough of culture programme for each year of its operation?

The Mayor: My London Borough of Culture programme will play an important role in London’s economic and social recovery. Working with 13 local authorities, through title awards and Cultural Impact Awards, it is supporting communities, generating creative jobs, transforming young people’s lives and contributing to local regeneration.
Waltham Forest’s title year in 2019 saw them attract 500,000 additional visits to culture, reach every school in the borough, and recruit 1,000 volunteers, who went on to provide important community support during the COVID-19 lockdown. £4.1m was spent in the local area by audiences, and over £1.1m external investment was secured by the Council.
Brent 2020’s programme pivoted online, with projects developed in response to COVID-19. While the programme changed, Brent delivered on the ambition of its original bid, with the voices of young people and artists at its heart. Over 500,000 people have engaged with the programme online.
The total spend in each year of operation is as follows:
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21 (Budget)
£21,077
£240,989
£1,454,560
£2,195,852
£1.394m

Speed levels of London buses

Caroline Pidgeon: I understand that all TfL buses use tachographs to monitor speed and distance reached. Is any systematic assessment undertaken of the information collected to ensure that buses are not exceeding speed limits on specific roads, especially roads with a 20 mph speed limit? Please state how the information collected by the tachographs is regularly examined, other than being accessed following specific complaints about speeding.

The Mayor: Tachographs are not fitted and are not legally required on London buses as driver hours are heavily regulated and audited in the UK. To assist with speed compliance, however, new vehicles are fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology, which ensures the vehicle stays within the speed limit along its route including 20mph zones. Around 17 per cent of the fleet has this so far, and it will become more widespread as new vehicles replace older buses, providing a technological solution to compliance.
Bus operators also have telematics or iBus data with which to check how the bus is being driven, and this can be used to work out indicative speeds. Most use this proactively where the data highlights potentially significant exceedances as well as to investigate complaints of buses travelling above road speed limits. The outcomes are followed up with the drivers where necessary and in serious cases this can lead to disciplinary action.

Road User Charging

Keith Prince: Will you rule out the introduction of road user charging in London so long as you are Mayor?

The Mayor: Earlier this year the Transport for London (TfL) Board and I commissioned an independent review to examine potential options for long-term financial stability of TfL and firmer foundations into the future.
Londoners pay £500m a year in VED, and I have been clear that it is not fair that the government spends this huge sum almost exclusively outside the capital, with TfL left to fund maintenance of major roads in Greater London from its fare-dominated income.
The report recommends that further road user charging income could be used alongside other sources to ensure long-term investment in London’s transport. The report refers to different types of schemes that could be considered to help address policy issues and the funding gap.
I have asked TfL to undertake a feasibility study of a Greater London Boundary Charge for non-residents, including the case for such a scheme and its impacts on traffic, congestion, air quality, inclusion, health and London’s economy. This will establish whether such a scheme would be effective in delivering key existing policy objectives at the same time as providing essential income for London’s transport network.
This detailed feasibility study will provide a sound basis for any future proposals, which, if brought forward, would be fully researched, evidence-based and put to public consultation as part of a proper process.

Edmonton Incinerator

Joanne McCartney: There is growing concern locally in Edmonton about North London Waste Authority’s plans for Edmonton Eco-Park, in particular the new incinerator. Planning approval was given by the Secretary of State, supported by your predecessor. Would you ask the Government, given their now stated commitment to tackle the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions, to review this planning approval?

The Mayor: In November 2019 there was an unsuccessful attempt by a local campaign group to seek a judicial review of the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy’s decision to make the Development Consent Order for the North London Heat and Power Generating Station. It is no longer possible to bring any further challenge to this decision as the time period for doing so has expired.
I have been clear with the Government that London is facing a climate emergency and does not need any further waste incinerator capacity to manage the city’s non-recyclable waste. I am committed to London becoming net zero carbon by 2030 but we also need Government to play its part and ensure its decision-making is in line with tackling the climate emergency.
In these circumstances, I am now focused on making sure that this facility, and London’s other incinerators minimise their environmental impact by only managing truly non-recyclable waste, maximising both the heat and electricity generated, and operating to the most stringent air quality standards possible. One of the projects funded by my recently announced Green New Deal Fund will support the development of a low carbon heat network in Enfield that will capture waste heat from the Edmonton facility and supply affordable ‘near zero carbon’ heating to homes and businesses in the London borough of Enfield whilst making at least 20MW of heat available in the network for the boroughs of Haringey and Hackney.

COVID-19 Second wave

Onkar Sahota: As cases in London rise, what work are you doing to identify and help demographics, areas and communities most at risk from the second wave?

The Mayor: I announced in November a further £1.4m investment in the Community Response Fund to support the charities and civil society organisations that provide vital services and support in the capital, analysis of the £42m grants so far shows that almost half went to BAME-led organisations.
I have set up new engagement activity to ensure that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are central to contributing ideas and solutions to drive the work of myself and my Deputy Mayors. I am regularly engaging with Faith and BAME groups through the Faith Sector Panel, London Boroughs Faiths Network, Black Majority Church Leaders and my Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard led a series of roundtables during the summer. These findings contributed to a rapid review I commissioned into the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 in relation to protected characteristics and other factors in London.
I am continuing to meet regularly with Professor Kevin Fenton, London Director, Public Health England to ensure that the report recommendations are incorporated into the work of the Recovery Board and the Recovery Missions. Professor Fenton is chairing the Health Equity Group which has an oversight role of health inequalities work across London. My Health Team contributed to the London Public Health System Resilience Leadership Group reviews into the impacts of COVID-19 on London’s population, one looking at the wider impacts of the pandemic and considerations for recovery, the other looking at the people and places most affected. In addition, Public Health England are finalising a new dataset which will provide greater insight into how different communities across London are affected by Covid-19. The data will provide information on: testing, case rate, hospital admission and mortality by ethnicity and other socio-economic factors to enable agencies to target their work to London’s most vulnerable communities.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Please set out the exact process used to consult with the London Ambulance Service and how it responds to proposed Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in relation to enquiries about the potential impact on ambulance response times.

The Mayor: TfL does not consult with the emergency services on borough Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). This duty falls on London boroughs when changes are proposed to borough roads.
Typically, a borough will create a proposed design for a traffic order and would then consult with key stakeholders, including the London Ambulance Service. Boroughs are then responsible for deciding on how to address any consultation feedback before a traffic order is formally made and introduced.
As part of the Streetspace programme, TfL has issued borough guidance on the introduction of LTNs (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/lsp-app-six-a-supplementary-guidance-ltns-v1.pdf). This confirms that boroughs should consult with each emergency service ahead of the introduction of an LTN.

ACM Cladding Remediation

Caroline Pidgeon: According to a recent MHCLG report, there are 251 high-rise residential and publicly owned buildings identified with ACM cladding systems unlikely to meet Building Regulations in London, 72 in Greater Manchester and 137 in the Rest of England. Remediation is complete for 78 buildings in London (31% of all buildings identified in the capital), 38 buildings in Greater Manchester (53%), and 86 buildings in the Rest of England (63%). Do you share my serious concerns that London is significantly behind the rest of the country in terms of the remediation of Grenfell-style ACM cladding remediation works, and how are you working with Government to address this?

The Mayor: I am deeply concerned about the pace of remediation of unsafe ACM cladding on London’s buildings. London has more than twice as many private ACM blocks as the rest of the country combined and its built environment is extremely complex. Private sector blocks tend to have more complicated ownership structures, and less co-operative owners who don’t have the same experience carrying out major capital works projects as social landlords.
In September, I wrote to more than 40 London building owners who had failed to begin the remediation of unsafe ACM cladding demanding that they accelerate their plans to remove cladding. Since then 21 buildings have begun remediation work. My Building Safety Team continues to work closely with London boroughs, London Fire Brigade and the Government on potential enforcement for those building owners failing to progress at pace. I have also called on Government to put more resource into the joint inspection team.

Letting of Shared Ownership Properties that are Awaiting an EWS1 Assessment

Caroline Pidgeon: Some housing associations are allowing flexibility so that shared owners can let out their property while the building is awaiting an EWS1 assessment as owners are currently unable to sell them without such an assessment. What is your position on this, and if you support this will you be encouraging all housing associations to offer the same degree of flexibility to shared owners in such situations?

The Mayor: I am very concerned about the issues that EWS1 forms continue to cause for leaseholders. However, this is a national crisis, and one the Government must resolve. I wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government specifically on this issue in September setting out five key actions ministers should take to resolve this crisis. I have not yet received a response.
I understand that subletting restrictions on shared ownership units will cause distress to many shared owners. But I do not believe this issue alone is permissible grounds for subletting in most cases.
As UK Cladding Action Group (UKCAG) have rightly highlighted, subletting is not the solution to the building safety crisis. We must focus all our efforts on pursuing a national, long-term solution to this crisis and ensure we achieve the highest standards of building safety to protect all residents and leaseholders across the country.

Retention of Social Housing Stock

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you consider making it a grant condition of receiving Approved Provider and Strategic Partner status during the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme that associations should follow the National Housing Federation’s recommendation of only selling social rent voids at Existing Use Value Social Housing to councils or other providers, to retain social rent stock; reduce homelessness, and boroughs’ cost for temporary accommodation?

The Mayor: Protecting London’s existing social housing stock to ensure that this scarce resource benefits as many people who need it as possible is one of the priorities outlined in my London Housing Strategy.
The priorities and requirements for the new Affordable Homes Programme have been agreed and are laid out in the Funding Guidance, and I urge partners to do all that they can to maintain the supply of good quality and affordable social rented stock, for which we know there is overwhelming need.

Regional Reporting of Housing Associations’ Revenues, Costs, and Tenures of New Housing Supply (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: What consideration have you given to requiring separate regional reporting for London and the rest of England? For all multi-region providers, will the GLA report in detail on all sources of revenue (by tenure, for existing stock and new build; capital receipts from social rent void sales/disposals etc); all costs (land/construction etc); and the tenures of new housing supply, for the current and future affordable Housing Programmes, including the available figures for the 2021-26 programme?

The Mayor: The details collected from partners with affordable housing contracts with the GLA, relate only to London programmes. Programme approvals outside London are administered by Homes England.

Regional Reporting of Housing Associations’ Revenues, Costs, and Tenures of New Housing Supply (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: Will you make detailed, separate regional reporting a grant condition of receiving Approved Provider and Strategic Partner status for the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme?

The Mayor: The details collected from partners with affordable housing contracts with the GLA, relate only to London programmes. Programme approvals outside London are administered by Homes England.

GLA employee travel plan

Caroline Russell: Does the GLA have an employee travel plan for workers employed by the Mayor and Assembly, and have surveys been conducted into the modes of transport used by staff to commute to work? If so, could details of this plan, including any targets and measures taken to reduce car commuting be provided, alongside any data held on employee commuting mode share collected over the past three years?

The Mayor: The GLA does not have an employee travel plan and there have not been any surveys conducted into the modes of transport used by staff to commute to work.
The only parking bays available for GLA staff at City Hall, Union Street and the Crystal are for disabled staff on request, and there is no other car parking provision available for GLA staff. Therefore, targets and measures to reduce car commuting have not been employed. However, there are a number of measures in place that encourage staff to either cycle or use public transport, including an interest free season ticket loan, the Cycle2work Scheme and the bicycle loan scheme.

Brexit and London

Joanne McCartney: What plans do you have to ensure that London plays a leading role in Europe following Brexit?

The Mayor: I’m optimistic that the historic bonds established between London and other European cities will endure. There are many common interests we can unite around, and challenges we must meet together; such as tackling air pollution, promoting equality, fighting terrorism and striving against the politics of division that we see on the rise across Europe.
Earlier this month, I spoke at the EU Committee of the Regions to reinforce my commitment to engage with European city leaders in pursuit of those goals. I will ensure that London remains a partner for EU institutions and European cities, regions and nations by sharing our ideas and expertise both bilaterally and through international networks.
My international promotion agency London & Partners will continue banging the drum for London as a world leading place to do business, study, visit and invest, with L&P representatives based in Paris and Berlin dedicated to promoting these opportunities.

Rainbow Cities Network

Leonie Cooper: Has the Mayor considered joining this network of cities that have come together to support and enhance the interests of their LGBT+ citizens?

The Mayor: Thank you for bringing this interesting initiative to my attention. I will ask my officers to explore membership requirements as member cities are represented by equality and diversity policy officers and not by political representatives.

Hammersmith Bridge (2)

Leonie Cooper: Can you tell me how much money TfL has spent on the Hammersmith Bridge plans so far?

The Mayor: To date, Transport for London (TfL) has spent £16.7m on investigations, feasibility, design, monitoring, and early works. As part of the funding settlement agreed with Government in October 2020, TfL has committed a further £4m over the next four months, for repair works, together with funding to set up a ferry service, and to carry out further improvements to bus services, traffic lights and road monitoring to help keep traffic flowing. TfL will continue to work with all stakeholders and with the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce to agree a long-term solution.

Drainage Problems on Tottenham High Road

Joanne McCartney: There is regular water pooling, presumably due to poor drainage, along Tottenham High Road affecting bus lanes and pedestrians who have difficulty crossing the road – residents have complained on numerous occasions - can this please be fully investigated and finally resolved?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has been working with its contractors to resolve the issues on Tottenham High Road.
In December 2019 and January 2020 TfL’s contractors carried out significant work at the location to resolve the problems that had previously been highlighted by local residents.
This work included:
These works resolved the issues that had previously been reported by local residents and issues that TfL’s inspections had identified.
Recently some issues of water pooling have been reported following periods of heavy rain. These will be addressed during TfL’s regular yearly cyclical maintenance work, carried out in this location every 12 months, which isdue to begin in this area imminently. Any issues that are found will be noted and acted upon to make sure that all drainage in the area is working as it should be.

Gender Pay Gap (1)

Leonie Cooper: I was pleased to see that the City Hall gender pay gap is close to zero. However, the economic gender gap will not close for another 275 years on current trends and women are more likely to be adversely impacted as a result of this pandemic. How are you sharing your good practice with London’s employers?

The Mayor: It’s deeply concerning that global progress on closing the gender pay gap is happening so slowly. I’m speaking out about the unfairness of pay inequality and leading by example, ensuring GLA Group organisations have robust action plans to measure and tackle pay gaps.
My Good Work Standard encourages businesses to publish their pay gap data and demonstrate their commitment to tackling pay inequality.
Together with five other cities across the world, I recently founded CHANGE, the City Hub and Network for Gender Equity. The network will amplify our calls to employers within our cities to end pay inequality and help us tackle the problem by sharing data and building collaboration between cities.

Gender Pay Gap (2)

Leonie Cooper: How is the economic crisis impacting on the work being carried out to close the gender pay gap in London? What action are you taking to prevent good progress in being lost?

The Mayor: It’s clear that lockdown measures affected Londoners’ jobs unequally. More women than men were furloughed and lost jobs, and this difference was even more striking between mothers and fathers.
The ‘Helping Londoners into Good Work’ mission of the London Recovery programme will ensure groups of Londoners most affected by the economic crisis, including young women and mothers, are able to access employment support, skills and training.
This year has seen employers demonstrate commitment to the moral case for, as well as the business benefits of, inclusive workplaces. Pay transparency is an essential part of ending pay discrimination. I’ve asked employers to voluntarily publish gender pay gap data this year, and I’m calling on government to reintroduce mandatory pay gap reporting from 2020/21.

Mayor opens City Hall to homeless Londoners on Christmas Eve

Murad Qureshi: Last Christmas, the Mayor welcomed people experiencing homelessness to City Hall for a meal and services such as haircuts and optical checks. Many such events usually happen across London at Christmas, delivered by charities and community groups. What could be done to galvanise some of the Christmas community spirit to support rough sleepers, despite restrictions expected to be in place this Christmas?

The Mayor: All rough sleepers accommodated in the GLA-procured hotels over the festive period will be receiving a traditional Christmas lunch on Christmas Day. Many charities and community groups are continuing to provide key services to help people throughout the pandemic and the Christmas period, and will be seeking to celebrate the festive season with their clients in a COVID-secure way.

Resourcing LFB for a second wave of Covid-19

Andrew Dismore: The London Fire Commissioner had previously indicated that the new duties undertaken by LFB officers during the first wave of the pandemic could only be continued if resourcing was in place for this. Is this resourcing in place in case of a second wave?

The Mayor: The key new duties undertaken by London Fire Brigade (LFB) officers were in relation to the Ambulance Driving Assist (ADA) to the London Ambulance Service (LAS).The arrangements for the LFB to continue to provide ADA support to the LAS and any further assistance is currently being discussed at national level.The agreement to be put in place is to include cost recovery arrangements, for the LAS to refund LFB additional costs.
The other area of additional duties was the Pandemic Multi Agency Response Teams (PMART).The costs of PMART are included in a claim for cost recovery from the Home Office. The model used for PMART was only made possible through cancellation of training courses and leave for firefighters during the COVID-19 restrictions.Any further requests for assistance for this role would be made by the Metropolitan Police Service through the Strategic Coordination Group. There is currently no indication that this role will be requested in the coming months.

Pandemic Multi-Agency Response Teams reconvening

Andrew Dismore: With cases rising across London, have the Pandemic Multi-Agency Response Teams now been reconvened?

The Mayor: It is anticipated that a heightened level of deaths in the community will be handled by Borough Policing who will be provided with additional PPE and training.
The PMART Tactical Coordination Group set clearly defined thresholds for when PMART may need to be reinstated. The thresholds are based upon; current mortuary capacity across London, the numbers of sudden community deaths, the capacity of any agency responding to community deaths being unable to cope with excessive demand.
In the event that any one of these criteria has been met then the Police lead will initiate a formal request for resources through the Strategic Coordination Group.

10pm curfew (3)

Leonie Cooper: With the Government extending the curfew to 11pm, what measures will you be putting in place to support social distancing when bars and restaurants close?

The Mayor: I am pleased we persuaded the Government to get rid of the 10pm curfew but extending it to 11pm, when it should have been scrapped altogether, is a mistake. The curfew is counterproductive and continues to force customers onto the streets and transport network at the same time, rather than enabling staggered leaving times.
The High Street Reopening Group, co-chaired by my Night Czar, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and the Chief Executive of the London Borough of Hounslow, brings together local authorities, the Met Police, Transport for London and business groups to address safety and licensing issues such as this. London Boroughs are recruiting and training new COVID Marshalls as well as redeploying staff to support their on-street enforcement teams. Local authority officers are also doing a vital job helping businesses and the public to trade, shop and socialise safely.

Time for International Baccalaureate?

Murad Qureshi: With another summer likely to be without “A” Level exams and with no fall back on coursework since 2010, it is not time to promote the International Baccalaureate for London’s schools?

The Mayor: The International Baccalaureate is a valuable qualification and I hope it continues to be offered in state sector schools in London. It is schools, with parents and students, who are best placed to determine the qualifications for which their students are entered, based on the needs of their pupils and the resources available.
The Government must ensure that the exams chaos of the past summer is not repeated, and that pupils’ qualifications are a true reflection of their ability and effort

London’s built environment (3)

Andrew Dismore: How much is the Government’s failure to address the issues of cladding and work with building owners to ensure where necessary remediation takes place impacting on the workload of LFB? What do you estimate the cost implication of this to be for LFB?

The Mayor: Work on the identification, inspection and monitoring of buildings with potentially combustible cladding has been undertaken through reallocation of resources within London Fire Brigade. So, although there have been impacts on other work such as the number of routine fire safety inspections for other, lower risk,premises and non-emergency work undertaken by fire crews, new direct financial burdens have not arisen for this work. Some staffing for the operation and monitoring of the checks undertaken has been necessary but this is currently funded from additional Government grant.
As full detail of the changes to fire safety and building safety legislation are still be developed, including the implementation by government of the stage 1 Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations it is too early to place an accurate figure on costs arising from additional training and continuous professional development but we would expect this to be accounted for in Government funding under the new burdens doctrine. This is being kept under review.

Impact of COVID-19 on workers (1)

Susan Hall: Has the Deputy Mayor for Business undertaken any specific work on the impact of COVID-19 on the self-employed in London?

The Mayor: My Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, has played a key role in our response to the pandemic, making sure regular updates are fed back to me from his meetings with the business community as well as his meetings chairing the BusinessandEconomic Impacts sub-group of the pan-London Strategic Coordination Group.This has includedfocus on support for the self-employed.As a result,I have repeatedly pressed the government to close gaps in eligibility in theSelf Employment Income Support Scheme.The impact of COVID-19 on self-employed Londoners has been profound. GLA figures show that up to 200,000 self-employed workers are being excluded by the Government from support, in most cases because they are either newly self-employed, receive a mix of PAYE and self-employed income, or company directors.
My Economic Development and Culture teamsare fundingongoingresearch from Centre for London on the future of self-employment in London, covering the impactin sectors most affected by Covid-19 restrictions, and making recommendations for further actionto the Deputy Mayor for Business.

Economic impact of COVID-19 across London

Susan Hall: Please publish any analysis undertaken by the Deputy Mayor for Business which specifically focuses on the economic impact of COVID-19 across different areas of London, including any variation in impact between inner and outer boroughs.

The Mayor: Since March, the Deputy Mayor for Business and GLA officers have analysed the business and economic impacts of COVID-19 on a regular basis, closely supported by GLA Economics. The GLA frequently release publications on the state of London’s economy. There are two regular publications - London’s Economy Today (LET) and London’s Economic Outlook - as well as additional individual publications. The LET is published at the end of every month, with the latest released on 26 November 2020. The Latest London’s Economic Outlook was released on 7 December.
The Mayor has also commissioned a major piece of research into the future challenges and opportunities facing the Central Activities Zone which should inform understanding of the long-term impacts on the variation in impact between inner and outer London. This work will involve robust analysis and evidence gathering, scenario development and policy implications.

Impact of 24/7 bus lanes on Lambeth & Southwark households

Florence Eshalomi: Mr Mayor I am committed to your overall plans to discourage a car-led recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. 28 of the 100 bus lanes that make up the recently introduced 24/7 bus lanes, fall within my constituency. What is the Mayor and TfL doing to ensure that the right balance is being struck between the needs of businesses and households and the need for cleaner London air?

The Mayor: The bus network plays a vital role for London, with over six million passenger journeys a day prior to lockdown. Transport for London (TfL) wants to ensure that people travelling on the bus network have the safest, quickest and most reliable journey at all times of the day. If people switch even a fraction of their previous journeys to cars, the increased congestion would be damaging for both the environment and public health, and essential deliveries and emergency services will be gridlocked.
In changing bus lanes to operate at all times, impacts to businesses and households have been considered, with loading and disabled parking bays retained for example. As this is a trial, TfL is encouraging feedback to help improve the effectiveness of these measures, with adjustments already made to locations within your constituency, including on Kennington Park Road. Any impacted party can submit feedback to TfL through its website: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/all-day-bus-lanes/. TfL is also asking people to avoid peak periods and travel at quiet times.

London’s built environment (2)

Andrew Dismore: What work is your team undertaking to support London Fire Brigade in understanding the scale of the current dangers in London’s built environment due to issues of dangerous cladding?

The Mayor: London’s built environment is extremely complex, and the level of risk is on a scale we have not seen before. I have regular conversations with the London Fire Commissioner about these issues and have repeatedly called upon Ministers to do more to ensure that people are safe in their homes.
In September, I wrote to more than 40 London landlords to demand that they put the safety of their residents first and start work to remove dangerous ACM cladding immediately. Also in September, I wrote to the Government to press for action on external wall systems and called for a training and accreditation programme to increase the number of competent professionals able to carry out safety inspections of external walls.
I will continue to raise these matters with Government, landlords and other key players to urge them to treat these issues with the seriousness and urgency they need.

Parks and Recreation Space (1)

Nicky Gavron: Lockdown has demonstrated the need for parks and recreation grounds. What is your assessment of opportunities for creating new parks of all sizes?

The Mayor: Given the availability and competing pressures on land in London, there are very few opportunities to create large areas of new public open space based on traditional parks and green spaces.
To address this challenge and make the city greener my London Plan policies G1, G4 and G5 set out how boroughs should protect, plan and integrate green infrastructure and open space into new development. This requires developers to consider how they can provide publicly accessible open space, particularly in areas of deficiency, and apply an Urban Greening Factor (UGF). The UGF requires greening to be incorporated into new development to deliver health and environmental benefits.
To support the implementation of these policies, Green Infrastructure Strategy Guidance will be published to help boroughs identify opportunities for new and enhanced green infrastructure, including greening the public realm.
My Grow Back Greener Fundhas also recently awarded almost£700,000to34 local community greening projectsto create and improve at least six hectares of public open space, prioritising projects in areas of deprivation and with poor access to green space.
This builds on the £13 million I have invested since 2016 which has supported over 250 projects to create and improve nearly 500 hectares of green space, including 2 new publicly accessible woodlands in London’s greenbelt.

Bakerloo Line Extension

Keith Prince: During your Mayoralty, have you secured the Bakerloo Line Extension?

The Mayor: During my Mayoralty I have continued to support and develop plans for the Bakerloo line extension. During this time, two public consultations have been carried out, in 2017 and 2019, both of which have demonstrated high levels of public support and have allowed Transport for London (TfL) to confirm the details of the scheme. The results from the most recent public consultation and TfL’s response to the issues raised was published on 30 November. Technical feasibility work has been completed that would support the issuing of Statutory Safeguarding Directions.
Following close working with the Department for Transport and the Secretary of State for Transport, the Government has now confirmed that we can proceed with Safeguarding for the scheme, which would prevent premature development on sites required to deliver the project. I will continue to work with government and others on options for funding so this vital project can be delivered, and its many benefits realised.

Loneliness over Christmas

Nicky Gavron: Given that many more older people will spend Christmas alone this year, what actions are you taking directly or indirectly though other organisations to combat this?

The Mayor: No one should have to feel lonely this Christmas. Loneliness can affect all Londoners and this Christmas will be particularly hard for many.
To help tackle loneliness this winter I provided £1.4 million to wave 4 of the London Community Response Fund. This will support organisations which exist to reduce social isolation and promote good mental health and wellbeing.
My Thrive LDN initiative has developed an article on staying well and connected during Christmas and will be dispatching 113,000 wellbeing packs through TfL and charity partners. I am supporting the Jo Cox Foundation’s Great Winter Get Together and encouraging all Londoners to stay connected, whether that’s by delivering a gift to a neighbour, hosting a virtual gathering, reaching out to others who may be lonely or volunteering in your local community.

TfL car park developments (11)

Susan Hall: Is TfL relying on additional bail-out funding from the Department for Transport to take forward its plans to build over station car parks?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL) Property Development programme provides a long-term revenue stream and I am pleased this activity was explicitly recognised by the Secretary of State in the recent funding settlement reached last month.
TfL remains committed to delivering its housing programme in full as soon as possible, providing Londoners with the thousands of affordable homes they desperately need. No additional funding from TfL or DfT is required for these projects.
TfL is forecasting capital receipts and profit totalling £198.9m from these 14 developments.

Child-friendly London (1)

Nicky Gavron: During the most recent lockdown, children’s playgrounds have remained opened. What have you been doing to ensure that these have been kept safe?

The Mayor: During these difficult times it is beneficial for children to have a place to play outdoors for their health, development and wellbeing.
It is the responsibility of the Local Authorities or community organisations running play spaces to ensure that they comply with the relevant regulations. The government has published guidance for the owners and operators responsible for outdoor playgrounds during this period at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-playgrounds-and-outdoor-gyms/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-playgrounds-and-outdoor-gyms
My teams continue to provide guidance and the latest coronavirus updates for London. These are available at https://www.london.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Cycle infrastructure design LTN 1/20 (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: What steps does TfL take to ensure that the funding it allocates to London boroughs involves projects on London borough roads implementing in full the cycle infrastructure design LTN 1/20?

The Mayor: Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Cycling Design Standards also apply to projects delivered by London boroughs. All borough cycling projects are reviewed against TfL’s Design Standards prior to funding and implementation to ensure they meet normal requirements. TfL is confident that all TfL borough cycle projects are high-quality and help make cycling safer and more attractive.

London Power

Caroline Pidgeon: Please state how many London households have currently signed up to London Power?

The Mayor: Since the launch of London Power in January, 3,658 London households were benefiting from fair, affordable and green energy by the end of September 2020. As per my response to MQ 2020/2724 we report on London Power every quarter, with the next update up to the end of December 2020 due in January.